Tiritiri Matangi, 7 Hours
7 hours · Social Nature Movement
Guided tour with a grazing platter and gear.
from $139 per person Check availability →
St Heliers Start, Rangitoto BBQ
Sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto Island
from $139.02 per person
Check availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- Duration
- 6 hours 30 minutes
- Meeting point
- St Heliers Bay
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Meal
- Meal included
- Run by
- Auckland Sea Kayaks
Overview
This six-and-a-half hour trip with Auckland Sea Kayaks paddles from the St Heliers boat ramp across to Rangitoto Island, serves a BBQ dinner on the shore, then hikes to the summit for sunset before kayaking back to Auckland in the dark. The return leg, lit by city glow and stars, comes up in review after review.
The tour runs in small friendly groups, capped at eight travellers, and the operator says it suits people with little kayaking experience. One reviewer who had never kayaked before reported mastering it with the guide's help. Dinner, coffee and tea are included.
It is genuinely physical, though. Reviewers describe a long paddling round trip, with one noting a 10km return kayak and over two hours of paddling, plus a sustained hike to the summit. Anyone with moderate fitness who does not mind getting wet and sweaty will likely love it. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the operator asks for a moderate level of physical fitness.
- Rangitoto BBQ, 7 Hours$116
- Tiritiri Matangi, 7 Hours$139
- St Heliers Start, Rangitoto BBQ (this tour)$139.02
What's Included
Included
- Fully catered with BBQ dinner
- Small friendly groups
- Suitable for people with little kayaking experience
- Top quality sea kayak equipment
- Experienced guides
- Dinner
- Coffee and/or Tea
Not Included
- N/A
Itinerary
- Meet at St HeliersThe meeting point is the central boat ramp at 384 Tamaki Drive, St Heliers. A free shuttle from the Auckland War Memorial Museum atrium is available, must be pre-booked at the time of booking, and departs 30 minutes before the tour; seats are limited and there are no hotel pickups.
- Safety briefingGuides cover paddling technique and safety tips before the group launches, according to reviewer accounts of their trip.
- Paddle to RangitotoThe group crosses to the island by kayak. Guides keep the group together and watch for boat traffic.
- BBQ dinner on shoreGuides cook a BBQ dinner on the island, with coffee or tea. Vegan options have been catered when noted at booking, according to reviewer accounts.
- Sunset summit hikeThe group hikes to the Rangitoto summit for sunset.
- Night paddle backAfter sunset the group paddles back to St Heliers in the dark. The tour ends at the original meeting point.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points come up again and again in reviews.
- Fitness needed. Reviewers consistently call this a strenuous outing, not a gentle paddle. One reviewer noted a 10km return kayak and a 7km return hike, and a moderate level of physical fitness is required.
- Wear proper shoes. Check, clean and seal your gear before departure, which includes footwear free of soil and seeds.
- Dietary requests. Dinner, coffee and tea are included, and one reviewer reported a vegan option being catered. Flag dietary needs when booking so the guides can plan the meal.
- Weather flexibility. The experience requires good weather. When wind has prevented the Rangitoto crossing, one reviewer reported being offered a coastline paddle with a beach barbecue instead of a cancellation, and a different date or a full refund is offered if weather cancels the trip.
- Pest-free packing. The Hauraki Gulf islands are pest-free, and travellers must check, clean and seal all gear before departure. That means no open bags or supermarket bags, food in sealed containers, and footwear scrubbed of soil and seeds. Pets are not allowed.
- Small groups. The tour runs with a maximum of eight travellers. Reviewers describe a sociable, relaxed group feel.
Common issues. This is a demanding trip, and reviewers are clear that the kayaking and the hike require real fitness, with one describing it as strenuous rather than moderate. Weather can also change the plan, since strong wind has led guides to substitute a different route, and trips can be cancelled if a minimum number of travellers is not met or conditions are poor, with a different date or full refund offered. There is no wheelchair access, and the free museum shuttle must be pre-booked and has limited seats, with no hotel pickups.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
The tour includes a fully catered BBQ dinner, coffee and tea, top quality sea kayak equipment, and experienced guides in small friendly groups. The paddle back to the city after dark is part of the same tour.
Is Food Extra, And Are There Vegetarian Options?
Dinner plus coffee or tea are included, so there is no separate charge for the meal on the island. One reviewer reported a vegan option being available, and recommended noting dietary needs when booking.
Where Does The Tour Start, And Is There A Pickup?
The meeting point is the central boat ramp at 384 Tamaki Drive, St Heliers. A free shuttle runs from the Auckland War Memorial Museum atrium, departing 30 minutes before the tour, but it must be pre-booked and seats are limited. There are no hotel pickups.
Is This Suitable For Beginners Or People With Limited Mobility?
The tour suits people with little kayaking experience, and one first-time kayaker reported managing well after the guide's coaching. It is not wheelchair accessible, and a moderate level of physical fitness is required for the paddling and the summit hike.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
A full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the start time, based on local time. Inside 24 hours no refund or changes are accepted. Weather cancellations and trips that miss the minimum traveller number come with an offer of a different date or a full refund.
What Should I Bring?
Pack any food in sealed containers, since the Gulf islands are pest-free and open bags are not allowed. All gear must be checked, cleaned and zipped shut, with footwear free of soil and seeds, and pets cannot come along.
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