Book the Best Tours in Waitomo

Budget-friendly guided tour of Waitomo Caves with boat ride.

• Best for Nature enthusiasts and curious travelers who want a gentle cave walk and peaceful boat ride, marveling at glowworms overhead.
• Book this if you want: A serene 45-minute guided tour where you’ll drift quietly under a glowing canopy of glowworms along the Waitomo River.
• Everything you get: A small-group tour, expert Maori-descended guide, and a magical boat ride through glowworm-lit caves.
• Make the most of the calm of the underground cave as glowworms softly light your path and learn about the land’s legacy from your Maori guide.

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

Adrenaline and wonder in one experience, perfect for gentle thrills.

• Best for adventure-loving teens and adults ready to tube and raft through waterfalls and glowworm-lit caves, without needing caving experience.
• Book this if you want: A 3-hour adrenaline rush that involves tubing and rafting through Waitomo’s winding cave systems, with an upgrade for ziplining.
• Everything you get: Safety gear, wetsuits, expert guide, and entry to one of New Zealand’s most exciting underground cave systems.
• Make the most of floating through underground rivers by tube, surrounded by glowworms as you raft through magic.

Inclusions

• 3 or 5-hour black water rafting tour (based on option selected)

• Underground tour of Ruakuri Cave

• Ziplining, abseiling, rafting and tubing (based on option selected)

• English-speaking guide

• Small group of up to 8 or 12 people (based on option selected)

• Helmet, light, and black water rafting tube (based on option selected)

• Safety equipment

• Wetsuits, socks and shoes

• Safety briefing and training

• Changing rooms with hot showers

Exclusions

• Photos

Eco-conscious small-group cave adventure through the cave's quieter sections.

• Best for Eco-conscious adventurers seeking an intimate, small-group cave experience with an emphasis on preserving nature and glowworm habitats.
• Book this if you want: A 3-hour guided adventure through the lesser-known, eco-friendly parts of Waitomo Cave, with close encounters with glowworms.
• Everything you get: Eco-focused small-group tour, safety gear, thermal clothing, snacks, and a hot drink for warming up afterward.
• Make the most of stream-wading and climbing through glowworm-lit caves, while your guide shares Waitomo’s natural wonders.

Inclusions

• 3-hour guided tour of Waitomo Cave

• 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

Float, climb, and wade through Waitomo’s caves for a deeper dive into nature.

• Best for Thrill-seekers and adventurers who crave ziplining, abseiling, and rafting through dark, subterranean rivers in Waitomo’s caves.
• Book this if you want: A black water rafting adventure with ziplining, abseiling, and tubing through Ruakuri Cave’s underground waterways.
• Everything you get: Expert guide, wetsuits, helmets, all safety equipment, plus access to changing rooms with hot showers after the thrill.
• Make the most of rafting through the glowworm-lit darkness, plunging through underground waterfalls, and drifting peacefully through the quiet caves.

Inclusions

• 5-hour black water rafting tour

• Underground tour of Ruakuri Cave

• Ziplining, abseiling and tubing

• English-speaking guide

• Small group of up to 8 people

• Helmet, light, and black water rafting tube

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

• Wetsuits, socks and shoes

• Safety briefing and training

• Changing rooms with hot showers

New Zealand’s only wheelchair-accessible cave steeped in Maori history.

• Best for families, wheelchair users, and photographers looking for a more interactive, accessible cave experience with a longer tour.
• Book this if you want: A fully accessible tour with dramatic limestone formations, glowworms, and insights into local Maori legends.
• Everything you get: A small-group tour, knowledgeable guide, full wheelchair access, and the freedom to capture photos of the experience.
• Make the most of the fully accessible cave walk with beautiful limestones, and stories passed down through generations from a Maori guide.

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

All-inclusive day trip to Waitomo’s iconic glowworms with hotel transfers.

• Best for city explorers and first-time visitors seeking a full-day, hassle-free adventure from Auckland, with transfers and guided experiences.
• Book this if you want: A convenient day trip from Auckland to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, including a peaceful boat ride beneath a glowworm canopy.
• Everything you get: Round-trip transfers, snacks, expert local guide, small-group tour, and entry to the iconic glowworm caves.
• Make the most of relaxing on your boat ride while thousands of glowworms twinkle overhead, and the sights seen on route from Auckland.

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)

Perfect for LOTR fans, this tour combines some of New Zealand's best.

• Best for movie buffs, nature lovers, and cultural explorers wanting to combine an iconic movie experience with the magic of New Zealand’s caves.
• Book this if you want: A full-day, small-group adventure through Middle-earth’s most famous set and the mesmerizing glow of the Waitomo Caves.
• Everything you get: Guided tours of Hobbiton and Waitomo Cave, a boat ride under glowworms, round-trip transfers, and a drink at the Green Dragon.
• Make the most of strolling through the Shire, snapping photos at Bilbo’s house, and floating beneath a glowing sky of Waitomo glowworms.

Inclusions

• Full-day tour of Hobbiton movie set and Waitomo Cave

• 2.5-hour guided tour of Hobbiton movie set

• 45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Grotto

• Waitomo River boat ride

• English-speaking guide

• Small group tour

• Round-trip hotel transfers from Auckland CBD

• Complimentary beer, cider or ginger beer at Green Dragon Inn

• Snacks and water

• Entry to Hobbiton movie set

• Entry to Waitomo Cave

Explore Waitomo’s glowworms and Rotorua’s geothermal marvels in one day.

• Best for culture and nature lovers looking to combine iconic Waitomo caves with Rotorua’s geothermal wonders and Maori cultural experiences.
• Book this if you want: A seamless day trip that includes a Waitomo glowworm tour, Rotorua geysers, mud pools, and a visit to a Maori village.
• Everything you get: Guided tours, small-group access, round-trip transfers, snacks, and entry to Waitomo, Te Puia, and the Kiwi Bird Enclosure.
• Make the most of the glowworms in the quiet darkness of Waitomo, then explore Rotorua’s bubbling mud pools, geysers, and rich Maori culture.

Inclusions

• Full-day tour of Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, and Te Puia

• 45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Cave

• Waitomo River boat ride

• 1.5-hour guided tour of Te Puia Geothermal Valley, Rotorua

• Visit to Puhuto Geyser, Mud Pools, and Maori Village

• Kiwi bird-watching

• English-speaking guide

• Small-group tour

• Round-trip hotel transfers from Auckland CBD

• Snacks and water

• Entry to Te Puia Geothermal Valley

• Access to Kiwi Bird Enclosure

Smaller chambers than other caves for a more personal experience.

• Best for explorers and photographers eager to see one of Waitomo’s quieter, picturesque caves without the large crowds of the main attractions.
• Book this if you want: A relaxed 1-hour cave tour to experience natural formations, deep caverns, and Maori legends, in a more intimate setting.
• Everything you get: Guided tour, small-group access, permission to photograph throughout the tour, and entry to the stunning Aranui Cave.
• Make the most of photographing intricate limestone formations from rich caramels to soft pinks and pristine whites, and the massive stalactites.

Inclusions

• 1-hour guided tour of Aranui Cave

• English-speaking guide of Maori descent

• Small group of up to 15 people

• Photography allowed

• Entry to Aranui Cave

High-speed ziplining through the scenic Waitomo countryside with aerial views.

• Best for families, groups, and adrenaline seekers looking for an outdoor adventure ziplining through scenic landscapes in Waitomo.
• Book this if you want: A 2-hour adrenaline rush through a 10-line zipline circuit, surrounded by Waitomo’s beautiful nature.
• Everything you get: Safety equipment, expert guide, up to 2 hours of ziplining, and the chance to zoom through New Zealand’s lush forests.
• Make the most of soaring through treetops, catching glimpses of the native bush below, and feeling the rush as you zip through 10 thrilling lines.

Inclusions

• Entry to Waitomo Caves Zipline Park

• Expert guide

• Up to 2 hours of ziplining

• Access to 10 in a 1km circuit

• Safety lesson

• Safety equipment