Waitomo Tours & Day Trips

Waitomo tours take you into the limestone caves of the Waikato, from a boat ride beneath the glow worms to black water rafting through cave streams. The village is the centre of things to do in Waitomo, and the tours start from a handful of meeting points around Waitomo Caves, so it helps to know which cave each one covers.

Waitomo glow worm cave tours and cave combos

The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is the one most people come for. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour is a 45-minute tour that covers more than 250 metres of underground scenery with commentary from your guide, and ends with a boat trip through the Glowworm Grotto. It runs daily from 9am from 39 Waitomo Village Road.

Combo tickets add a second cave. The Glowworm Caves and Ruakuri Cave combo is a 2.8-hour option with a shuttle provided to Ruakuri Cave, subject to space. The Glowworm Caves and Aranui Cave combo pairs the grotto with the smallest cave in a 1.5-hour experience, and the Waikato Triple Cave Combo adds Ruakuri, Aranui and the Glowworm Caves together in a 3.5-hour option.

Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave guided tours

Ruakuri Cave is the long walk. The 90-minute Ruakuri Cave guided tour starts with a spiral descent into limestone formations and crystal tapestries, with glow worms close enough to see up close. It leaves from the Ruakuri Cave Tours visitor centre on Tumutumu Road between 10am and 3.30pm.

Aranui Cave is the quiet one. On the 1-hour Aranui Cave guided tour, boardwalks lead past a colony of native cave wētā near the entrance and into narrow chambers of pale pink and white stalactites. It runs daily from 10am, with the last tour at 2.30pm.

Black water rafting in Waitomo

Black water rafting is the wet way in. The Black Water Rafting Labyrinth tour is a 3-hour, beginner-friendly trip that mixes cave tubing with walking and climbing, a small waterfall jump and glow worms overhead. Wetsuits and footwear are provided, and hot showers and soup follow.

The 5-hour Black Abyss half-day tour goes deeper into Ruakuri Cave with abseiling, climbing and a flying fox, in tours of around eight people. Both check in at The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co on Waitomo Caves Road.

A small-group cave walk off the main track

For a quieter option, the 3-hour Off The Beaten Track glow worm cave tour takes groups of two to eight through native bush, over boulders and through a freshwater stream into a private family-owned cave with no concrete paths or artificial lighting. It departs from Down To Earth at 1199 Oparure Road, Te Kūiti, at 9.30am and 1.30pm, and wear swimwear under your clothing.

Choosing a Waitomo cave tour

Start with wet or dry. The glowworm, Ruakuri and Aranui tours stay dry and range from a 45-minute tour to a 1.5-hour combo, while black water rafting and the stream-wading walk mean getting wet and are 3 to 5-hour trips. Combos suit a first visit, because one ticket covers more than one cave.

Meeting points differ, so check where yours starts: Waitomo Village Road for the Glowworm Caves and Aranui Cave, Tumutumu Road for Ruakuri Cave and Waitomo Caves Road for black water rafting. Most ask you to arrive half an hour before departure. Waitomo is a 2.5-hour drive south of Auckland, and Waitomo day tours from Auckland run as a single day, either to the glowworm caves alone or combined with the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a Waitomo cave tour?

The Waitomo Glowworm Cave tour is a 45-minute tour, the Ruakuri Cave guided tour is a 90-minute walk and the Aranui Cave guided tour is a 1-hour visit. Cave combos range from a 1.5-hour to a 3.5-hour option, black water rafting trips are 3 to 5-hour adventures and the small-group cave walk is a 3-hour trip.

Can you visit the Waitomo caves on your own?

The Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave are all visited on guided tours. You can still see Waitomo glow worms without a tour at night on the Ruakuri Walk, beside the main bridge, if you bring a torch.

Can you take photos in the Waitomo caves?

On the Waitomo combo tickets, cameras are listed as permitted in Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave but not in the Waitomo Glowworm Cave. On the Off The Beaten Track cave walk, phones and small cameras are welcome and the guide takes complimentary photos.

Are the Waitomo caves wheelchair accessible?

The Ruakuri Cave guided tour is listed as wheelchair and pushchair accessible, while the Waitomo Glowworm Caves do not have wheelchair access. Check the details for the cave you plan to visit before you book.

Is black water rafting in Waitomo suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Black Water Rafting Labyrinth tour is a beginner-friendly 3-hour trip with wetsuits and footwear provided. Minimum age and weight requirements apply, so check the tour details before booking.

Can you do Waitomo as a day trip from Auckland?

Yes. Waitomo is a 2.5-hour drive south of Auckland, and day tours from Auckland run as a single day, either to the glowworm caves alone or combined with the Hobbiton Movie Set.

What time do Waitomo cave tours start?

Waitomo Glowworm Cave tours run daily from 9am to 5pm, Ruakuri Cave guided tours run between 10am and 3.30pm and Aranui Cave guided tours run from 10am to 2.30pm. Tour times can change, so check the time shown when you book.

What are Waitomo glow worms?

Waitomo glow worms are Arachnocampa luminosa, a species of fungus gnat found only in New Zealand, and they light the ceilings of the Waitomo caves.

Pick the cave that matches the time you have, and book your Waitomo cave tour online with Experience Oz.