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.

Duration

1 hr 30 mins

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Guided tour

Mobile ticket

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!

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!

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

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

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Guests from Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 25 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Anne
Mar, 2025Verified booking
4/5
Recommendation by friends Not really flush with glow worms and not really necessary Caves themselves are wonderful enough... But guide very good Tickets confusing however I thought that I had booked a 2 cave tour.. need to be simpler ticketing descriptions
Louis
Feb, 2025Verified booking
5/5
The overall experience was awsome. First of all the ticketing process went without a hitch and the phone app worked as expected. The cave experience was out of this world. The tour guide was so informative and we learned a lot about the workings of a cave and the life cycle of the glow worms.
Margaret
Feb, 2025Verified booking
3/5
Tour was well organised and a good experience but the guide was from Wales - he was not a Maori guide as advertised. He was quite good but not what was promised .
Dorothee
Feb, 2025Verified booking
5/5
The Guide Lee was really good an tikd us a Lot of Background Informations. And the Glow-Worms are so cute 😁 and the cave is amazing . We loved the Tour. Take Always a Jacket with you ☺️
Joanie
Feb, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Lovely guide Jetta! She was upbeat, knowledgable, patient and took photos of everyone. The cave formations are amazing.

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.

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.

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.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at Ruakuri Visitor Centre

Address: 204, Tumutumu Road, Waitomo Caves 3985, New Zealand

Get Directions to the Meeting Point

Getting There

By Car

Take route 'New Zealand State Highway 37' and drive on Waitomo caves road.

By Bus

The closest bus stop is Waitomo Glowworm Caves and it is 2.8 km from the destination.