Okarito Kayaks offers expert, intimate and nature focused guided kayak trips, as well as rental of kayaks to explore independently, on Ōkārito Lagoon, New Zealand’s largest unmodified coastal wetland.
We’re a small, award-winning family-run business, that offer a genuinely quiet, peaceful and off-the-beaten track experience.
Stunning native birdlife in New Zealand’s largest Predator-Free environment, incredible mountain views and the freedom and tranquility of gentle, calm water kayaking – take a deep breath and enjoy Ōkārito.
We look forward to sharing our place with you.
Let us to show you our stunning Ōkārito Lagoon
Explore the peaceful Ōkārito waterways at your own pace
Okarito Kayaks have been hosting visitors for over thirty years, and have won numerous awards for our commitment to sustainability and personal quality of service.
A small, local family owned and operated business, we look forward to welcoming you to our quiet town of Ōkārito, and sharing what we think is special about our home with you.
We believe our business should contribute in a positive way both socially, and environmentally, to this special place we’re fortunate enough to live and work in.
Award winners for our work in looking after this incredible natural environment, Okarito Kayaks team are deeply involved in work to leave the rich and valuable biodiversity of the area better than we found it.
Come and join us to find out what makes this area so special, and why it’s worth looking after.
Okarito kayaks offers a beautiful kayaking experience on one of New Zealand’s biggest lagoons, with amazing southern Alps views. Owner Baz was a perfect guide in every way, from safety protocols to navigating in shallow waters and showing us the bird and plant life all around us. Okarito Kayaks also sponsors annual “get rid of invasive plants” cleanups in the area, making a pristine part of New Zealand even more pristine.
My teenage son and I did a self-guided overnight kayak and overnight camp with Okarito Kayaks.
Awesome family business. Baz is a great guy and Gemma made a mean cuppa on our return. Gear is well maintained and their knowledge of the environment made for an engaging trip.
We camped in sand-dunes overlooking the Tasman sea and cooked on an open drift-wood fire on the beach.
Even managed to see rare white herons and a wide range of bird life on the lagoon.
Peaceful holiday
Highly recommended!
We visited in april early in the morning for a self guided two hours kayak tour. We had no special expectations and it became a highlight of our roadtrip. First, the team is super friendly and patient and they provide us a very detailled briefing with so many interesting explanations. The kayaks are totally suited to the activity and in perfect condition. And then, the landscapes and scenery are just incredible, the wet areas with so many birds singing and flying all around and the mount Cook at the background. A real must to do and a good excuse to come visit the small village of Okarito. Thank you !!!
Awesome experience from start to finish. In my opinion it is one of the must-do experiences on the West Coast. Stunning scenery, friendly people and a lovely surprise to have coffee waiting for us at the end.
We had an excellent trip with Meghan on a beautiful Autumn day. Meghans knowledge and passion for New Zealand conservation made me glad we took a guided trip. I loved seeing the different birds and forest from the viewpoint of the lagoon. The complimentary hot drink and sandfly repellant were much appreciated. Would love to come back in Winter to see what the mountains look like with more snow. Thanks!
Out here on the Coast, Ōkārito often gets far better weather than in at the base of the mountains and on the West Coast generally. So don’t believe the TV or newspaper forecast!
We get less than half the rainfall and much more sunshine that Franz Josef town, just 25-minutes drive away, and keep a really keen expert eye on what’s forecast.
Give us a call and we’ll always give you an honest and accurate forecast for what to expect here in Ōkārito.
Ōkārito is a small, peaceful village on the western sea coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
Only 10km off the main highway, Ōkārito is about 25-minutes drive north of Franz Josef Glacier. Look for the signposted turn-off between Lake Mapourika and Lake Wahapo.
You’ll find spacious, private car parking at our two red sheds on the left just as you enter the village, with a hospitable base building and bathrooms for comfort.
1, The Strand, Ōkārito, West Coast kayaks@okarito.co.nz +64 3 753 4014 Get directions
Soak up this stunning natural environment. Hire a kayak to independently explore these ancient waterways at your own pace or let one of our experienced guides take you on an intimate tour through pristine wilderness.
Options available for all ages and any fitness level.
