Headout logo. Link to home.
Help
Day Trips

From Auckland: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour boat with visitors viewing glowworms, departing from Auckland.
Small group of tourists exploring the luminescent Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a guided tour from Auckland
Ruakuri Cave limestone formations and guided tour path, Waitomo, New Zealand.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour boat with illuminated cave ceiling, departing from Auckland.

Explore the magical Waitomo Caves and see thousands of glowworms on a boat ride on this full-day tour from Auckland. Upgrade to visit the Hobbiton movie set.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a scenic drive from Auckland to the magical glowworm caves in Waitomo, with round-trip transfers and a serene cave boat ride.

  • With round-trip transfers from Auckland CBD and snacks and water, this trip lets you enjoy the sights, hassle-free.

  • Explore Waitomo Caves' underground wonders, adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, on a guided walk.

  • Upgrade your experience to visit the Hobbiton movie set and live out your Lord of the Rings fantasy.

  • Did you know? Waitomo’s underground rivers were formed over 30 million years ago by volcanic activity.

Inclusions

  • Full-day tour of Waitomo Caves from Auckland

  • English-speaking guide/driver

  • Small-group tour of up to 11 people

  • Round-trip hotel transfers from Auckland CBD

  • 45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Grotto

  • Waitomo River boat ride

  • Snacks and water

  • Entry to Waitomo Cave

  • 2.5-hour guided tour of Hobbiton movie set (if option selected)

  • Complimentary beer, cider, or ginger beer at Green Dragon Inn (if option selected)

  • Entry to Hobbiton movie set (if option selected)

Itinerary

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.4
10 ratings
5/5
7
4/5
2
3/5
0
2/5
0
1/5
1
  • Australia
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Chile
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Singapore
Guests from Australia, United States, Canada and over 7 countries have loved this experience
Roxana Radulescu

Roxana

5/5

May, 2024

Had a lovely time on the tour, Chris was a wonderful guide, sharing a lot of interesting facts and adding in some extra sights along the drive. Communication and scheduling was easy and precise, I appreciated the punctuality.
Deborah Daniel

Deborah

5/5

Mar, 2024

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.
Francisca Valentina Vera Díaz-Muñoz

Francisca

5/5

Jul, 2024

good snacks, very in detail explanations of the different sports and the cave itself.
Isra Moh’d Said Salameh

Isra

4/5

Oct, 2024

Natalia Rezai

Natalia

5/5

Jun, 2024

Discover the natural wonders and cultural heritage of New Zealand on this guided tour from Auckland.

The Glowworm Caves tour

Hotel pickup from Auckland

Enjoy a pickup service from your hotel in Auckland CBD. Relax and admire the scenic views of South Auckland and The Waikato region as you drive towards Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

Arrive at Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Explore one of New Zealand's natural wonders with a guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Learn about the history and significance of the caves, which have been attracting visitors for over 120 years.

Guided walk inside Waitomo Grotto

Follow your guide through the limestone formations and chambers of Waitomo Grotto. Marvel at the natural light display created by thousands of tiny glowworms, which are unique to New Zealand.

Boat ride along Waitomo River

Hop on board a flat-bottom boat and glide along the Waitomo River. Experience the magic of the glowworms as they illuminate the dark cave ceiling like a starry sky.

Hotel drop-off in Auckland

After a full day of adventure and discovery, you'll be dropped off at your hotel in Auckland CBD.

What to bring

  • Bring a comfortable set of walking shoes, sunscreen, sunhat, and any medications you may need.

  • When you visit, make sure you've got a credit card or your phone set up for contactless payments (like Apple Pay or Google Pay).

What's not allowed

  • Photography is not allowed at Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

Accessibility

  • This tour is accessible to those with reasonable mobility.

  • The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users.

Additional information

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

  • Infants aged 0 to 2 can travel for free if they do not occupy a seat.

  • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

  • Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID during the pick-up.

Hotel Transfers

  • This ticket includes hotel pickups and drop-offs.

  • In the next step of booking, please specify the name and address of your hotel.

  • This is applicable to all hotels in Auckland CBD.

  • On the day of your tour, please arrive at your hotel lobby 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time.

  • If your hotel does not have a lobby, please wait at the entrance of your hotel.

Similar experiences you'd love

Free cancellation
Small group of tourists exploring the luminescent Waitomo Glowworm Caves in Auckland
Guided Tours
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
4.5
Rated 4.49 out of 5.0 from 812 ratings.
from
NZ$79
Free cancellation
Waitomo Caves tour group exploring glowworm-lit caverns, Rotorua geothermal features, Te Puia cultural site.
Guided Tours
From Auckland: Waitomo Caves, Rotorua & Te Puia Guided Tour
Instant confirmation
New
from
NZ$349
Free cancellation
Hobbiton Movie Set with lush greenery and Waitomo Caves entrance, New Zealand tour from Auckland.
Day Trips
From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour
Instant confirmation
New
from
NZ$399
Free cancellation
Guided tour inside Aranui Cave, New Zealand, showcasing limestone formations and stalactites.
Outdoor Activities
Aranui Cave Guided Tour
New
NZ$79
Free cancellation
Visitors ziplining through lush forest at Waitomo Caves Zipline Park, New Zealand.
Ziplining
Waitomo Caves Zipline Park Tickets
Instant confirmation
New
NZ$125

Top things to do in Waitomo

Browse by themes

World at your tap.

Get the Headout app to get tickets on your phone and access app-only deals. Talk about win-win.
iphone

We've served 32 million+ guests and we are here for you

32 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

4.4/5

28,000+ verified reviews with 90% excellent score

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime