Outdoor Activities

Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour

Ruakuri Cave limestone formations and guided tour path, Waitomo, New Zealand.

Ruakuri Cave stalactites and stalagmites on guided tour in Waitomo, New Zealand.

Marvel at the captivating beauty of the magical Ruakari Cave with a remarkable spiral entrance and home to thousands of glowworms on this mystical guided tour!

Highlights

Stroll through the solar-powered Ruakuri Cave, a natural wonder adorned with glowworms.
Venture down the dramatic spiral entrance and witness tiny creatures that make the cave sparkle like a night sky up close.
Join the longest underground walking tour in Waitiomo Caves and learn about the myths and legends of the cave from the local guide.
With photography allowed, you’ll be able to capture your memories of this remarkable underground world.
Did you know? Ruakuri Cave is one of the few wheelchair and pushchair-accessible caves in the world!

Inclusions

1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave
English-speaking guide of Maori descent
Small group of up to 14 people
Wheelchair accessible
Photography allowed
Entry to Ruakuri Cave

cancellation policy

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

Reviews

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4.4

214 ratings

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Milou

5/5

Jan, 2025

Passionated guide and a wonderfull experience to see all these glowworms. Also the cave was beautifull with enough time to make some pictures.

Tanya

5/5

Jan, 2025

It was a fabulous tour. Our guide was very helpful and knowledgeable and also kept it fun and relaxed. Would definitely recommend this tour!

Kristen

5/5

Jan, 2025

There was a problem with them being able to book the time slot I selected, but they made it all good in a jiffy by scheduling me for a time 30 minutes later. It was all done through the chat function. The tour was amazing and a the experience of a lifetime to see glow worms. Thank you Head Out Team!

Taina

5/5

Dec, 2024

We really enjoyed this tour. Our guide made the visit interesting, fun and very enjoyable, with a great deal of humility. Many thanks to our guide for this wonderful experience!

View original review in French

Jarrett

5/5

Dec, 2024

Our guide was great - I'd suggest improving the marketing as it was not clear that you had a good glow worm experience, which we had. The implication from web searches is that your tour is cave focused and the other cave is glow worms focused. I have done both and Ruakuri is much better.

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Your experience

A dreamy escape to Ruakuri Cave

On this magical adventure, you will discover the spectacular Ruakuri Cave, powered by 100% renewable energy. What’s more, this dreamy experience is open for all with full wheelchair and pushchair access. You will walk down the illuminated spiral entrance to discover unique limestone formations formed over the years and enchanting crystal tapestries. Be sure to have your comfortable walking shoes on since the Ruakuri Cave is New Zealand's longest-guided underground walking tour!

Walk among the stars of the cave

The most ethereal part of the tour is when you come across the magnificent glowworms in a spectacular display. You’ll learn about these beautiful bio-luminescent creatures and the fascinating history of the cave from your tour guide. You can take your cameras out and capture the magical moment with thousands of glowworms decorating the cave like a starry night. Also, hear the thunder and burbles of distant subterranean waterfalls as you explore the underground natural wonder.

Know before you go

What to bring

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).

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair accessible and has pram/stroller accessibility.
Wheelchair/stroller width must not exceed 65cm.

Additional information

Photography and video are permitted in selected areas of the cave.
It's recommended to wear a warm jacket along with comfortable shoes as this experience involves a fair amount of walking.

My tickets

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