New Zealand · TOURS IN WAITOMO
Every trip has one free day too few. These 13 tours in Waitomo justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Walk through Waitomo’s limestone chambers with an English-speaking guide, then board a boat beneath a ceiling of glowworms. The tour includes Cathedral Cave, famous for its acoustics, and guides such as Ace, George, and Big T are known for adding Māori stories, songs, and humor. Cameras and phones must stay outside.
“As always, wonderful guide and always amazing to see the lovely caves and their glow worms.”
You’ll scramble through Ruakuri Cave, leap over small waterfalls, float through dark limestone passages, and watch glowworms shine above the underground river. Trained guides such as Evie, Liv, Cole, Molly, and G lead small groups of up to 12. Allow three hours, bring swimwear and a towel, and expect cold water, slippery rocks, and no cameras.
“Unreal experience! Would do it many times over. Oscar was an epic guide and we hade a wonderful time - can highly recommend this experience!”
Walk through Ruakuri Cave with an English-speaking guide such as Anna, Jayden, Garth, or Jetta. Expect a spiral entrance, limestone shawls, stalactites, underground water, and glowworms close enough to see their fine fishing threads. Small groups, photo-friendly stops, and wheelchair access make this a gentle alternative to more active Waitomo cave trips.
“Amazing cave with beautiful rock formations, glowworms and a river. Great experience overall, our guide was stellar! It is a bit pricey, but worth the money. As a note, definitely do check out the Ruakuri Bush Walk nearby (it's free) - it takes you through a beautiful fores, inside a large cavern with river and some waterfalls .”
Walk through Waitomo’s Cathedral Cave, learn about Arachnocampa luminosa, then take a quiet boat ride beneath thousands of glowworms. Guides such as Cohen and Corey bring the cave’s geology, Māori connections, and science to life. The 45-minute tour costs $50.27, with no photography and stairs to manage.
“We had a good tour. Fairly short timing, but good for a hot day! Unique opportunity that you probably shouldnt miss!”
Join Ash and the Down to Earth team for a rugged three-hour Waitomo cave trip on private farmland. Walk through native bush, wade shallow streams, scramble over rocks, and explore the Mangarongapu Cave system by headlamp. Warm clothing, caving gear, photos, and tea or coffee are included. You need good mobility and a sense of adventure.
“Once in a lifetime experience! Ash was very knowledgeable and answered all questions we had. He was attentive and informative”
Enter Ruakuri Cave with guides such as Lachie, Ricco, Liv, Leo, and Sammy. Choose the three-hour Black Labyrinth for jumps, tunnels, and glowworm viewing, or the five-hour Black Abyss for abseiling, ziplining, and longer cave exploration. Gear, hot showers, snacks, and soup are included.
“Went on the tour with Lydia and Leo. Both were awesome. This is a really unique experience doing the tour (not the one on the boat) they do a great job guiding you and telling you what to expect. I’m super glad we booked this tour. It gets a little cold, so just expect that but the tour provides wetsuits.”
This 3.5-hour Waitomo tour takes you across a family farm, through native bush and the Mangapu gorge, then into a natural cave system. Guide Ash leads small groups of up to eight over rocks, through shallow water, and beneath glowworm displays. Clothing, boots, showers, hot drinks, and cookies are included.
“It was great the guide was amazing just the environment in general was very welcoming and personal.”
Join a small group of up to eight for five hours underground in Ruakuri Cave. You will learn to abseil, descend 35 meters, zip through glowworms, float, scramble, and climb waterfalls. Guides such as Evie, Xavier, Tim, and Rebecca are known for calm safety coaching. Wetsuits, boots, equipment, soup, and a hot shower are included.
“Simply amazing! We had the best guides and the overall experience was epic!”
Travel from Auckland to Waitomo in a small group of up to 11, then explore Spellbound’s twin caves for three hours. You’ll take a quiet boat ride beneath thousands of glowworms, walk among limestone formations, and have time for photos. Guides such as Aaron, Deane, Jaime, Ross, and Finn add local stories and cave expertise.
“This was a two part experience, Aaron, our driver from the city of Auckland to Waitomo. Caves area was fabulous. He was a very safe, courteous and conscientious driver. He knew the land that we were driving through and had a lot of stories and information to provide The second part of our Tour was in the cave themselves. Doug was our guide there and he was fabulous. He explained everything in great detail and gave us opportunities to take photos when it was appropriate and we learned a lot. !”
This three-hour Okohua Glowworm Cave tour takes you through private limestone passages by foot, tube, and swim, with glowworms overhead and a hot tub waiting afterward. Guides such as Vaughan, Ollie, Christina, and John lead groups of no more than six, supplying wetsuits, boots, helmets, photos, videos, and a cave snack.
“In one word; AWESOME! Very special experience. Small group. Highly recommend!!”
Walk into Aranui Cave from the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve with an English-speaking local guide. Expect a short bush walk, safe boardwalks, cave wetas, tall chambers, and large stalactites and stalagmites. Guides such as Cori and Baba bring the geology, Maori stories, and cave details to life. Photography is allowed.
“Grotte magnifique , guide adorable, sensation de zénitude lorsque l’on est à l'intérieur contrairement à la grotte aux vers luisants où l'atmosphère était très lourde.”
Travel from Auckland to Waitomo in a temperature-controlled minibus with an English-speaking guide, then tour two very different caves. See New Zealand’s Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms from an underground boat and walk Ruakuri Cave’s spiral entrance, limestone formations, and subterranean waterfalls. Guide assignments vary, so commentary and driving style may differ.
“Both caves were cool for their uniqueness, but the Waitomo Caves were remarkable for the dazzling display along the indoor boat ride! The Mauri community preserves this site very well and makes it special. Our driver Marty was a definite impediment though. His accent was so heavy, most of us on the bus struggled to understand what he was saying! His driving was frightening at times. I am not sure he's a good fit for accomodating tourists as he isn't terribly friendly or hospitable as he was insistent on only going to places that would serve him a free meal or drink as a tour guide. This activity may be…”
Travel from Auckland CBD to Waitomo in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Walk through the Glowworm Cave, see stalactites and stalagmites, then drift by boat beneath thousands of glowworms. This private 7-hour outing includes pickup, drop-off, admission, and all fees, but not meals or drinks.
“How to guide was a very safe driver. The car was very comfortable and the scenery is delightful.”
Pick a coast, a summit or a cellar door.
