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Waitomo Cave Adventure: Hidden Chambers Await
5.0
391 Ratings
Te Kuiti
Embark on an intimate, personalised, and eco-friendly adventure in Waitomo Glowworm Caving. Discover amazing glow worm displays, away from the crowds, with small group sizes and a family-owned experience.
Embark on an intimate, personalised, and eco-friendly adventure in Waitomo Glowworm Caving. Discover amazing glow worm displays, away from the crowds, with small group sizes and a family-owned experience.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves - Discover pristine caves, shimmering glowworms, subterranean rivers, and breathtaking limestone formations — all within an intimate, eco-conscious group.
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves - Discover pristine caves, shimmering glowworms, subterranean rivers, and breathtaking limestone formations — all within an intimate, eco-conscious group.
What's Included
- Guided caving tour with a knowledgeable local guide
- All necessary caving equipment provided
- Warm clothing supplied, including thermal top, pants, fleece, and more
- Refreshments with tea, coffee, and snack
- Complimentary photo email post-tour
- Authentic Kiwi hospitality experience
- Guided caving tour with a knowledgeable local guide
- All necessary caving equipment provided
- Warm clothing supplied, including thermal top, pants, fleece, and more
- Refreshments with tea, coffee, and snack
- Complimentary photo email post-tour
- Authentic Kiwi hospitality experience
What's Not Included
- Pick-up and drop-off services
- Public transportation (bus, subway, cable car, etc.)
- Pick-up and drop-off services
- Public transportation (bus, subway, cable car, etc.)
Additional Information
Embark on an adventure into our exclusive caves, nestled in the picturesque hills of Waitomo — pristine, untouched, and illuminated by glowworms.
Experience caving as it should be: engaging, breathtaking, and slightly magical.
Prepare yourself and follow your guide through native forests before entering our hidden cave system. With your headlamp lighting…
Embark on an adventure into our exclusive caves, nestled in the picturesque hills of Waitomo — pristine, untouched, and illuminated by glowworms.
Experience caving as it should be: engaging, breathtaking, and slightly magical.
Prepare yourself and follow your guide through native forests before entering our hidden cave system. With your headlamp lighting the path, navigate around massive boulders, traverse shallow streams, and marvel at ancient limestone formations — all while surrounded by the glow of millions of glowworms.
Escape the crowds — our small-group tours provide a genuinely authentic experience.
Compact cameras are welcome — with ample time and space to capture the enchantment.
Connect with a guide who reveals the caves’ secrets and stories, making your journey personal and unforgettable.
Cherished by travelers worldwide, with thousands of glowing 5-star reviews.
- Not suitable for elderly or those with mobility issues — involves climbing, hills, and wading through streams.
- Maximum of 8 people per tour.
- Minimum age is 12 years.
- Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
- A reasonable/good level of fitness is required.
- NO large cameras or tripods. Phones or pocket sized cameras are welcome.
- Safety First — if flooding means we need to cancel, you’ll receive a full refund.
- Not recommended for travelers with a low level of fitness
Location
1199 Oparure Road
Oparure Road
Waitomo has lots of cave tours, which can be confusing!
Don’t just follow signs to “Waitomo Caves” — as the district is large with many operators. Instead, enter 1199 Oparure Road into Google Maps and it will bring you straight to us.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(391 Ratings)
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Nataliect6994gt
Sep 29, 2025
Amazing! - A fun and interesting experience with natural beauty, plus fantastic photos provided. I highly recommend it. We’re a kiwi family with teenagers and we all had a great time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X1985pnsarahp
Sep 23, 2025
Off the Beaten Track Adventure! - What a fun adventure to do with my husband on our parents’ vacation away! Ash was a great guide! His banter and knowledge of the caves made our trip so much fun! We had a great time and would recommend this tour to anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jasmine_g
Sep 17, 2025
An incredible experience!... - An incredible experience! Our tour guide Ash was knowledgeable, fun and helpful for the duration of the experience. The scenery of the river through the caves is definitely a highlight. There are a couple of tight spots in the caves where you might have to be on your belly and manoeuvre your body around to get through but at no point did we think we’d get stuck. Seeing the glow worms is for about 20-30mins at the end of the tour which was also an amazing experience. Highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a more adventurous way to see the glow worms or looking to get out of their comfort zone.
Review provided by Viator
632michaelay
Sep 17, 2025
Epic glow worm cave tour! - We ended up with a private tour, it was an unexpected but thoroughly enjoyable adventure! Our guide Ash was engaging and informative, the caves and underground river had a wild adventurous feel, and of course the glow worms were amazing! This was definitely a highlight of my New Zealand explorations!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sergiogx4187kp
Sep 11, 2025
“Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience You’ll Treasure Forever - Once in a lifetime experience and an adventure everyone should be able to have at least once!
We we're so lucky to enjoy Ash's 40+ years worth of experience and stories on those caves alll for ourselves. It was just the two of us who booked so it was like a private tour!!
From the start we felt like we knew Ash from many years, he's so friendly and makes you feel very comfortable all the time.
You get given all gear you need just so you don't have to worry about anything.
Don't be scared about getting your boots wet! From the start walking down to the river it's already a breathtaking landscape, and wait to get into the cave... Wow!! Each corner turn brings a new feeling of awe, which combined with Ash's knowledge, makes it a truly amazing experience.
Ash not only will keep you entertained the whole adventure, but he will also take the time to take pictures of you on the best spots... Which you can even get for free after!
To top it all off, you get to shower if you do wish and enjoy a nice cuppa with biscuits overlooking the hilly landscape full of friendly sheep and lambs!
This is truly an unforgettable adventure and one that we certainly won't forget!
If what you want is a personal experience and aren't afraid to get your feet wet, this is the tour to choose!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emma
Sep 11, 2025
Mesmerizing experience! - What an exhilarating experience! Ash, the tour guide, was fantastic, we didn’t miss a thing. Ended up being a private tour with just myself and my partner as it’s a little quieter during the winter months, made the tour even more interesting as we had Ash all to ourselves for information and photos. This must be the most incredible caving and glow worm sighting tour of all, we had never experienced anything like it before! 100% recommend, adventure, awe and laughs all in one…
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rosd488
Aug 23, 2025
An experience with nature not to be missed. - We chose this cave tour because we were after a cave tour that was as close to nature that we could get. The experience was educational and uplifting. We could easily imagine ourselves as being the first people to experience the solitude and beauty of the cave, with its stream running the length of it. Our guide (Ash) was both personable and knowledgeable. The cave and its entrances were another world. If you are reasonably fit and don’t mind getting your feet wet, this tour is a must do. We highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sonia
Aug 16, 2025
An adventure not to be missed! Extraordinary! - An incredible experience with our guide, we were all 4 (our family) and this afternoon will remain unforgettable!
Really recommend 200%.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thomas
Aug 15, 2025
À must do - Incredible moment within a little group (we were 4), alterning forest and water walk, caves with glowworms, Gears well adapted too.
Special thanks to our amazing guide, Ash, so nice, friendly and interesting
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mobile18018867379
Aug 8, 2025
An Unforgettable Glowworm Cave Adventure - This glowworm cave adventure was truly unforgettable. We never imagined we’d have the chance to explore a cave so deeply and learn so much along the way. Our guide was patient, humorous, and incredibly knowledgeable — sharing fascinating insights into the geology and ecology of the cave. The experience was both exciting and awe-inspiring. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique and educational adventure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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