Guided Tours

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Name: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Start: 2024-12-21T15:20:00
End: 2024-12-21T16:20:00
Location: Waitomo

Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour boat ride under illuminated cave ceiling in New Zealand.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour showcasing illuminated cave interior with glowworms.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour showcasing illuminated cave ceiling with glowworms.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves interior with illuminated stalactites and glowworms.

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.
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

45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Grotto (if option selected)

English-speaking guide of Maori descent
Waitomo River boat ride
Small group of up to 15 people
Entry to Waitomo Cave

1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave (if option selected)

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

3-hour guided tour of Waitomo Caves (if option selected)

English-speaking guide of Maori descent
Small group of up to 8 people
Snack
Hot drinks
Safety equipment
Warm clothing (thermals, fleece jumper, shorts, boots, socks)
Caving helmet

Full-day tour of Waitomo Caves from Auckland (if option selected)

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

Cancellation policy

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

Reviews

4.5

886 ratings

5/5

603

4/5

185

3/5

2/5

1/5

Melvin

5/5

Dec, 2024

The guied was lovely! She was really funny and kind, I think her name was Lane, she also explained very well! The woman that was taking photos was also very kind! She said some words in spanish (we speak spanish as our native language).

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.

Timothy

5/5

Nov, 2024

Did this tour 40 years ago, was great to share it this time with my daughter, who doesn't usually like caves, but the whole experience from booking through to end of the trip was seamlessly good, just a pity we couldn't take photos of us both there, until we'd finished.

Franz

5/5

Nov, 2024

We are so happy that we booked the Down to Earth tour. This is a guided tour into a privately owned and essentially undeveloped glowworm cave. Not too hard but, in my opinion, not suitable for somebody with mobility issues or fear of tight spaces. Also, prepare to get wet ... but know that a full change of clothing is provided. My wife and I had been looking for a somewhat longer tour restricted to only a handful of participants, and Down to Earth delivered! Ash, who guided the tour, is a lot of fun. He is very knowledgeable, and it is clear that he loves what he does. The glowworm cave was amazing - I loved it. Ash told us to turn off our headlamps, and once our eyes adjusted the cave ceiling came "alive". I send the pictures that Ash took to my family, and they marvelled at the night sky of New Zealand! Of course I corrected them ... and now they too want to come and see the glowworms. One of my favourite experiences here in New Zealand. Thank you Ashley.

Cameron

5/5

Nov, 2024

All went smoothly , Xavier was very informative. And an excellent guide thru the caves. The tour is very well set up for anyone to acccess.

Show all reviews

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 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).

What's not allowed

Photography is permitted in designated areas of the Ruakuri Caves. However, photography is strictly prohibited in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
Guests under 12 years are restricted from participating in the 3-hour guided tour.
Backpacks are not permitted inside Ruakuri Cave

Accessibility

Waitomo Grotto is not accessible for wheelchair users.
Ruakuri Caves are accessible for wheelchair users.
The small-group 3-hour guided tour is unsuitable for the elderly or those with mobility issues.

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.