Guided Tours

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour with Optional Ruakuri Cave Tour

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Discover a moment of magic under the luminescent light in Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Explore an ancient world hidden away in New Zealand's unique, natural beauty.

Highlights

Enjoy a slow-paced 45-minute tour through 250 meters of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, exploring the ancient dual-level system.
Witness tiny creatures creating a celestial galaxy in the Glowworm Grotto with their radiant luminescence.
Walk through the upper chamber of the 30-million-year-old cave system, then sail through the lower level encountering glowworms and the Cathedral.
Discover the cave's history, features, and legends with Maori chief descendants, who bring it to life through storytelling.
Care to explore more of this glowing haven? Opt for the 1.5-hour Ruakuri Caves tour, the longest underground walking experience available in this cave system.
Did you know? Glowworms found in New Zealand's Waitomo Caves are a unique species, and cannot be found anywhere else in the world!

Inclusions

Maori descendant expert tour guide
Small group tour
45-minute tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves (optional)
Boat ride along Waitomo River (optional)
Guided walk inside Waitomo Grotto (optional)
Extended 1.5-hour guided walking tour of Ruakuri Cave (optional)
Exclusive access to deeper and untouched areas of the cave (optional)
Access to Holdens Cavern, the Drum Passage, the Pretties & the Ghost Passage (optional)
Up close views of glowworms, stalagmites & stalactites (optional)
Entry & exit through the grand spiral staircase (optional)

Note: The inclusions may vary depending on the package you select during the next step of your booking.

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.4

385 reviews

5/5

240

4/5

101

3/5

2/5

1/5

Guests from Australia, United States, Germany and over 26 countries have loved this experience

Paul

5/5

Jun, 2024

Small tour size, awesome cave, awesome guides. The guide knew so much, was so friendly, and really enjoyed taking us through the cave.

Chris

3/5

Jun, 2024

Way over priced for what we saw, $35 would be a much more value for money. I would not recommend this to anyone at $75 A very big outlay for a family for such a short tour with very little to see.

Miao

5/5

Jun, 2024

Rene is the best tour guide, she led us to sing a beautiful Māori song together in the cave, told us all the stories, very knowledgeable. She is very caring, feel blessed to have her guiding us. I almost cried when I taking the boat tour, amazing and unique experience.

Kushal

3/5

Jun, 2024

I think the overall experience is good but price is just not justified. Put it this way, it was meant to be 45 min tour @75nzd. In real it took about 35 min in all. We were 5 members and spending 350nzd for something that is given by nature, i dont think its worth the price. Special mention to the Big T, our tour guide was simply awesome. Loved his energy😊

Ana

4/5

Jun, 2024

The tour was ok, very well explained by the guide in a relax pace. You can also see a bunch of glowing worms and It's completely accessible. For me a little bit overpriced.

Your experience

Explore the Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Join this 45-minute guided tour of one of New Zealand's best natural attractions. See the ancient limestone formations and the tiny glowworms lighting up the caves.

Your guide, a Maori descendant, will narrate legends and stories, enhancing your understanding of the caves' sacredness in Maori culture. Explore a 30-million-year-old landscape, learning about the glowworms' unique biology and their bioluminescence. The tour covers 2 levels of the caves: the dry upper level, showcasing delicate cave formations, and the lower level, featuring stream passages and the majestic Cathedral, the cave's tallest chamber.

Marvel at upper chamber carvings

Before setting sail, explore the upper chamber of the caves by foot. Here, you'll witness limestone formations, carved over millennia into stalactites, stalagmites, and intricate columns. Walking in the upper chamber offers a chance to appreciate the artistic mastery of nature in sculpting these delicate structures.

Sail through the Glowworm Grotto

The tour's highlight is a slow-paced boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. As you glide along the water, you will see thousands of glowworms shining their blue-green light on the cave ceiling. Experience a magical atmosphere as you witness a galaxy of tiny living lights. These glowworms, known as Archanocampa Luminosa, are unique to New Zealand and make the Waitomo Glowworm Caves a must-see attraction.

Know before you go

What's not allowed

Photography is permitted in designated areas of the Ruakuri Caves. However, in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, photography is strictly prohibited.

Accessibility

Ruakuri Caves are accessible for wheelchair users, in contrast to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves which are accessible to those with reasonable mobility.

Additional information

It's recommended to wear a warm jacket along with comfortable shoes.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.
Please arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.