4.4(372 Ratings)Rated 4.4 out of 5.0 from 372 Ratings.

Waitomo Caves

Journey through New Zealand's Waitomo Caves. See enchanting glowworms on a guided tour. Book now for subterranean magic.

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Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour with Optional Ruakuri Cave Tour

4.4

(334)

Free cancellation

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Mobile ticket

1 hr

from

NZ$75

Top Experiences

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Day Trips

From Auckland: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

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4.0

from

NZ$279

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Rafting

Guided Black Water Rafting in Waitomo

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4.7

NZ$179

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Guided Tours

From Auckland: Waitomo Caves, Rotorua & Te Puia Guided Tour

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New

NZ$459

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Day Trips

From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour

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5.0

from

NZ$410

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Outdoor Activities

Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour

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4.4

NZ$107

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Outdoor Activities

Aranui Cave Guided Tour

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New

NZ$75

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Rafting

Waitomo’s Black Abyss Guided Tour with Black Water Rafting & Zip Lining

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5.0

NZ$299

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Ziplining

Waitomo Caves Zipline Park Tickets

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5.0

NZ$125

Headout's Top Recommendations

Free cancellation

Guided Tours

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour with Optional Ruakuri Cave Tour

Instant confirmation

4.4

from

NZ$75

Free cancellation

Day Trips

From Auckland: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Instant confirmation

4.0

from

NZ$279

Free cancellation

Rafting

Guided Black Water Rafting in Waitomo

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4.7

NZ$179

Select a Date

Duration

1 hr

7 hrs - 12 hrs

3 hrs

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)

More Inclusions

Round-trip hotel transfers from Auckland

Expert guide

Small group tour

Complimentary snacks & water

45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves:

Boat ride along Waitomo River

Guided walk inside Waitomo Grotto

Transfers to Rotorua (based on option selected)

1.5-hour guided tour of Te Puia Geothermal Valley (based on option selected)

More Inclusions

3-hour underground black water rafting

Expert guide

Safety equipment (footwear, tubes, wetsuits, helmets, abseiling devices)

Snack

Small group of up to 12 guests

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Cancellation policy

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

You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

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

More details

Top things to do in Waitomo

About Waitomo Caves

Waitomo Glowworm Caves, dating back 30 million years, is a subterranean wonder in New Zealand. Walk through cave passages illuminated by the celestial glow of native glowworms. Book your tickets now and explore the geological and cultural treasures of this magical attraction.

Why visit Waitomo Caves?

Glowworms galore

Witness a breathtaking display of Arachnocampa luminosa, glowworms native only to New Zealand. This unique spectacle is only exclusive to Waitomo Caves.

Geological marvel

Explore over 300 limestone caves shaped over 30 million years by natural processes. Admire stalactites and stalagmites, some growing just one millimetre every 100 years.

Cultural immersion

Dive into Maori legends narrated by descendants of Chieftain Tane Tinorau, the person who discovered Waitomo Caves. Learn about Taniwha, atua, and Tane, adding cultural richness to your underground adventure.

Curated adventures

Waitomo offers diverse adventures from blackwater rafting or ziplining from caves. You can also participate in Glowworm Grotto tours and Maori storytelling for some interesting stories.

Thrilling water activities

Participate in thrilling water activities like guided blackwater rafting, abseiling, and ziplining in the Black Abyss. Waitomo Caves offers a perfect blend of adventure and natural wonders.

Did you know?

The glowworms in Waitomo Caves are actually a species of gnat called Arachnocampa Luminosa. In their larval stage, they glow to attract insects, resembling maggots more than worms.
The caves began forming 30 million years ago from limestone rock composed of marine fossils. Tectonic activity brought the rock to the surface, and rain, over a million years, created the expansive cave system.
Glowworms glow not only for tourists but mainly to attract other insects. Their bioluminescence, created by their tails, lures insects to their sticky lines. They also use the glow to attract mates.
Beyond the well-known caves, Waitomo area has hundreds of caves. Only around 10 of which are open for exploration, each with their own unique experience.
While there are paid tours, there are also opportunities to see glowworms for free. The Ruakuri Bushwalk at night allows visitors to spot glowworms along the trail using torches.

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Millions love heading out with us

Deborah

5/5

United States

The cave was simply amazing. Ticketing was easy. It was much easier to find with morning meeting location when we had an address and the name of the hotel rather than the GPS coordinates that were initially provided.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Small Group Tour from Auckland

Petra

5/5

We had a great time! A family with two kids - 9 and 12 Years old. Rob and Kelly are lovely people. We had a lot of fun and felt very safe. Thank you for this exciting family adventure!

Waitomo Caves Zipline Park Tickets

Amit

5/5

United States

This was an amazing experience! A must do for anyone who is in the Waitomo area. Rob and Kelsey were really great and made sure that we had a great time ziplining!

Waitomo Caves Zipline Park Tickets

Pey

5/5

The tour was amazing, our guide is very knowledgeable, we saw so many glow worms inside the cave. Couldn't take photo till end of boat trip but it's all right, still an awesome experience.

Guided Tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Heather

5/5

Australia

loved the 'other worldiy' feeling. we really appreciated Glen's untiring and persistent efforts to try and get everyone to keep silent.

Guided Tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Dom

5/5

New Zealand

Brilliant adventure under the ground. Very well looked after, the peaceful moments drifting underneath glowworms were amazing.

Guided Black Water Rafting in Waitomo

Colin

5/5

Australia

Booking in was simple and quick. The girls at the front desk could smile and engage a little more.😁 As I don't spend many days in caves the experience was amazing. The tour guides were engaging and very informative, 10/10 for them.

Guided Black Water Rafting in Waitomo