Beat the crowds this summer and head over to Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast.  We can guarantee you’ll find things to do here, that you wouldn’t expect in the Glacier Region.  Rent a Sea Kayak or a Stand-Up Paddleboard!  This is a perfect summer holiday activity.  We’re excited to launch our Kayak Rentals and Paddleboard (SUP) rentals for the season.  Rent kayaks from 2 hours, or spend a whole day on the water!  Or hourly SUP hire lets you paddle at your own pace.  There’s so much to explore on the beautiful waters of Lake Mapourika…

Sea Kayak Rental

Our super stable and easy to use double sea kayaks are designed to be efficient and user friendly.  After signing up for your experience, meet us at the Lake Mapourika Jetty for a run down on the equipment and how to use it.  We will provide you with a map of the Lake which highlights some of the swim beaches and scenic paddle destinations.  Be sure to bring your cell phone with you for safety, and we will provide you with a dry bag and some other safety equipment to bring on your journey.  We’ve even got you covered with some insect repellent and sunscreen to apply before you go.

Check out our current Sea Kayak Rental Rates!

Stand-Up Paddleboard Rental

Rent one of our quality inflatable Stand-up Paddleboards. SUP at your own pace and choose how long you’d like to rent the boards.  Starting from 1 hour, you can chose to hire for as long as you like from there! SUP’s are great for exploring the sheltered bays and rainforest fringed shorelines of the lake.  You can also use them for a day soaking up the sun on one of Lake Mapourika’s remote swim beaches.  The lake’s water temperatures are remarkably mild during the summer months.  We can expect the temperate to sit low to mid 20’s during the summer months, perfect swimming temperature!

If you’ve never used a paddleboard before we always recommend joining one of our guided SUP trips!  There’s even a BOAT & SUP option which includes a Scenic Boat Ride followed by a paddle through Mirror Creek & the Jurassic Rainforest of the Kiwi Sanctuary!

Not sure what to chose?  Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your options!

Where to explore by Sea Kayak or Stand-up Paddleboard?

There’s so much more to Lake Mapourika than is visible from the iconic Jetty Bay photo stop off the State Highway.  When you rent a sea kayak or a stand-up paddleboard you’ll enjoy the views from the water.  Getting out on the water lets you experience the calm, quiet and pure remoteness that the lake has on offer.  We’re pretty lucky to be the only commercial operators out here, but we’re also normally the only people out here!

As you paddle out of Jetty Bay, the panoramic mountain and glacier views are outstanding.  There’s so many options, and you can easily fill a half or full day exploring, relaxing and swimming on the Lake.  A half day hire will allow you time to paddle out to the far side of Lake Mapourika and explore the narrow winding pathway of Mirror Creek amidst the lush native rainforest.  You could also opt to paddle over to the Otto’s Corner swimming beach for a picnic in the sun.

Paddling slowly along the waters edge you will spot native eels beneath the surface, the rare white herons that breed nearby and you might even hear a kea!  The variety of wildlife is amazing and even on a drizzly day the calm moody mist creates is own truly unique west coast kayaking experience.

We hope to see you on the water with us BOOK NOW if you’re ready or visit our Frequently Asked Questions to help answer any questions!