Magical sight of glow worms

Being in New Zealand for a mere two weeks, I’ve already realized that this place boasts some unusual attractions, which combine with its beauty to make it the special place it is.  I recently had the opportunity to see one of New Zealand’s incredible attractions- glow worms.  The thrill of this was that the only way to see this particular creature was by kayak, at night.

I, along with four other people and Blair, our guide, arrived at Waimarino Adventure Park at dusk.  Blair welcomed us with great wine, juice, cheese, crackers and an assortment of fruit while sitting next to Lake McLaren and getting to know one another.  After our stomachs were satisfied, we decided it was time to hit the water.

This would be my second time ever in a kayak, which made me somewhat nervous knowing we would be paddling in the dark.  I am glad I remembered to bring a hat, but I wish I would have also worn a pair of gloves.  Blair provided us with a fleece jacket for those who needed another layer, as well as our water-proof outerwear and life jackets.  Although I felt like a giant balloon, I knew I would keep warm.

After we loaded ourselves into the kayaks, Blair made us feel at ease while he illustrated how to paddle and steer, and also demonstrated the procedure in the case of a kayak tipping over.  After we got into the water, I quickly caught on and realized kayaking was going to be a lot easier than I thought. By now the only light we had was the bright full moon which cast a beautiful reflection on the water ahead of us. 

After leisurely paddling for about 15 minutes, it was time to see what I had heard so much about- the glow worms.  One by one, our kayaks entered a large canyon, and as I caught a glimpse of the glow worms, I became speechless.  Gliding through, I saw millions of tiny bright lights splattered all over the canyon walls; a truly magical sight.  Blair explained the science behind glow worms and disclosed that he sees them all the time during his free time kayak trips. 

It’s so great that Kiwis have such an unusual creature in their own backyard, and that a simple kayak can transport people young and old out to see them while having an unforgettable experience. 

Additional Information:
Waimarino Adventure Park
www.waimarino.com
Main phone: +64 (7) 576-4233
A glow-worm kayak tour with Waimarino takes approximately 3 1/2 hours door to door and is $120 per person including drinks and nibbles or for $170 per person you can have a 3 course meal on the lake edge.