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Experience Auckland to Waitomo Caves the Easy Way

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Glowworms illuminating the ceiling of Waitomo Caves, casting a magical blue glow over the water below, as seen on a guided tour from Auckland
Waitomo Glowworm Caves interior with illuminated glowworms on cave ceiling during guided tour.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour boat ride under glowing cave ceiling, New Zealand.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour boat ride under illuminated cave ceiling in New Zealand.
Hobbiton Movie Set & Waitomo Caves Tour from Auckland-1
Hobbiton Movie Set with lush green hills and iconic round doors, New Zealand.
4.36(11)
7 hrs - 12 hrs
Free cancellation
Group: up to 11
Transfers includedTransfers included
Snacks and water providedSnacks and water provided
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
Convenient pick-up at your locationConvenient pick-up at your location
  • Enjoy a scenic drive from Auckland to the magical glowworm caves in Waitomo, with round-trip transfers and a serene cave boat ride.

  • With round-trip transfers from Auckland CBD and snacks and water, this trip lets you enjoy the sights, hassle-free.

  • Explore Waitomo Caves' underground wonders, adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, on a guided walk.

  • Upgrade your experience to visit the Hobbiton movie set and live out your Lord of the Rings fantasy.

  • Did you know? Waitomo’s underground rivers were formed over 30 million years ago by volcanic activity.

from
NZ$279
New
12 hrs
Free cancellation
Comfortable roundtrip transfers in A/C MinibusComfortable roundtrip transfers in A/C Minibus
One complimentary beverage, snacks and waterOne complimentary beverage, snacks and water
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
Convenient pick-up at your locationConvenient pick-up at your location
  • Join a guided day tour of the Hobbiton movie set and the historic Waitomo Caves formed over 30 million years ago.

  • Benefit from round-trip transfers from Auckland, experiencing the magical world of Middle Earth and the luminescent glowworms in Waitomo.

  • Explore the Hobbiton Movie Set, admire the iconic Hobbit Holes and The Mill, and savor a refreshing drink at the pub featured in the movie.

  • Discover Waitomo Caves' beauty, featuring age-old rock formations, and a boat ride beneath a canopy of twinkling glowworms.

  • Fun fact: The Hobbiton set has 44 hobbit holes, with the holes for the actors playing hobbits built at 90% scale, and the holes for Gandalf built at 60% scale.

from
NZ$399
New
11 hrs
Free cancellation
Comfortable roundtrip transfers in A/C MinibusComfortable roundtrip transfers in A/C Minibus
Snacks and water providedSnacks and water provided
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
Convenient pick-up at your locationConvenient pick-up at your location
  • Take in New Zealand’s geothermal and cultural gems on this full-day guided tour, combining Waitomo Caves, Rotorua's geysers, and Te Puia’s Māori arts.

  • Explore Waitomo Caves with your guide, marveling at the ancient formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone pillars.

  • Discover Te Puia's geothermal marvels, including Rotorua's active mud pools and the Pohutu Geyser, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

  • Witness Maori craftsmanship at the National Carving and Weaving Institute and immerse in Maori culture with a visit to a traditional village.

  • Fun fact: Rotorua is surrounded by lakes, including Lake Rotorua, which was created over 140,000 years ago, and Rotorua in Maori means "second lake."

from
NZ$349
4.48(878)
1 hr - 7 hrs
Free cancellation
Group: up to 15
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
  • 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!

from
NZ$79
4.59(66)
3 hrs - 5 hrs
Free cancellation
Group: up to 12
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
  • Experience a 3 or 5-hour rafting tour inside the limestone caves as you float under a sky of glowworms.

  • Learn the basics of caving and gear up to weave your way around the rocks on an exhilarating journey.

  • Get the adventure of a lifetime while traveling through the caves, and jumping off waterfalls, and upgrading to include ziplining and absceiling.

  • Dig into complimentary refreshments on board and take your time to admire the surreal beauty of the caves.

  • Did you know? The Māori call glowworms "titiwai," which translates to "stars reflected in water."

from
NZ$188
5(25)
3 hrs
Free cancellation
Group: up to 8
Meals includedMeals included
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
  • Take this 3-hour tour to hidden glowworm caves on a private farm far from the tourist trails. It's the perfect spot for a unique, quiet adventure.

  • This tour keeps things cozy with a cap of 8 people. It starts with a scenic walk through lush forests and the Mangapu Gorge, led by your guide.

  • Spend 2 hours climbing boulders, crossing streams, and exploring limestone caves. Inside, millions of glowworms light up the space in green and blue.

  • After your cave adventure, switch out of your gear and enjoy some well-deserved snacks with tea and coffee to wrap up your day.

  • Fun fact: Glowworms can actually dim their light! They control the amount of light they produce by contracting or expanding a light-emitting organ. See it for yourself at this cave (photography welcome!).

from
NZ$189

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4.33(18)
5 hrs
Free cancellation
Group: up to 8
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
  • Join a thrilling cave adventure in New Zealand's Waitomo Caves and explore the amazing Ruakuri Cave's Black Abyss.

  • With an expert guide, learn basic abseiling and tubing skills and start exploring this intricate natural wonder.

  • Start your adventure by abseiling 35 meters down into the dark cave and then zip-lining through a narrow passage lit up by thousands of glow worms.

  • Have a snack break and then continue your journey by tubing under a dazzling sky of glow worms and rafting over fast-flowing waters.

  • Fun fact: Some of the cave passages are over 30 million years old, adding a historic twist to your adventure.

from
NZ$314
New
1 hr
Free cancellation
Group: up to 15
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
  • Take a guided tour through the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve to see its magnificent cave, beautiful rock formations, and cave weta colonies.

  • Explore the Maori legends and myths of Aranui Cave with your guide and discover their anecdotes and secrets.

  • Get a glimpse of the long, narrow chambers of the Waitomo cave and the high chambers of the Aranui cave, as well as the white, pink, and brown stalactites that adorn this cave.

  • Take a stroll at the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve for scenic walks among the native wildlife and an enchanted forest.

  • Fun fact: The cave was discovered by a local Māori hunter chasing a wild pig. Ask your guide about this story - each guide has a slightly different version!

from
NZ$79
New
2 hrs
Free cancellation
Expert local tour guideExpert local tour guide
  • Soar through native forests and limestone cliffs in the Waitomo Caves region on 10 zip lines, covering a 1km circuit.

  • Learn how to control your zipline gear with the help of professional guides and challenge yourself with ziplines ranging from low and easy to high and fast.

  • Work your way up to the longest zipline, which is 280 meters long and reaches speeds up to 80 kilometers an hour.

  • Discover the local Maori culture while enjoying the thrill of ziplining. Learn about the region's history and traditions as you glide through the canopy.

  • Did you know? Some of the forests in the Waitomo region are home to ancient kauri trees, which can live for thousands of years.

from
NZ$125

Explore more destinations from Auckland

1

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

Journey to Middle-earth with a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set from Auckland. Walk through the Shire, explore Bilbo Baggins' hobbit hole, and relive the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies. Secure your Hobbiton Movie Set tickets and immerse yourself in magic.

Millions love heading out with us

Katerina Maudsley
AU

Katerina

5/5
Australia
review-image
The cave was beautiful, the glow worms were fascinating and the guide was friendly, informative and professional. Glad we booked online.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Deborah Daniel
US

Deborah

5/5
United States
The cave was simply amazing. Ticketing was easy. It was much easier to find with morning meeting location when we had an address and the name of the hotel rather than the GPS coordinates that were initially provided.
From Auckland: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Petra Lambeck

Petra

5/5
We had a great time! A family with two kids - 9 and 12 Years old. Rob and Kelly are lovely people. We had a lot of fun and felt very safe. Thank you for this exciting family adventure!
Waitomo Caves Zipline Park Tickets
Amit Mardikar
US

Amit

5/5
United States
This was an amazing experience! A must do for anyone who is in the Waitomo area. Rob and Kelsey were really great and made sure that we had a great time ziplining!
Waitomo Caves Zipline Park Tickets
Headout Guest

Headout Guest

5/5
This was an unbelievable experience. The glow worms were very cool to see, but more notably, we had a great group and excellent guides! I was a bit worried my mother would struggle but the guides did a great job helping her! The chauffeur they provided to the rafting sight was very comfy, and their entire staff was welcoming and made it a worthwhile trip!
Black Water Rafting, Ziplining and Abseiling Guided Experience in Waitomo
Camille Mosier
AU

Camille

5/5
Australia
The black abyss tour was absolutely incredible! For something that I'd been looking forward to for so long it's surprising that it actually exceeded expectations. The staff were all fabulous and accommodating even when we were late to the location. It doesn't hurt that our guides George and Mitch were also 🔥.
Black Water Rafting, Ziplining and Abseiling Guided Experience in Waitomo
Antje Steilen
NZ

Antje

5/5
New Zealand
Really good guides, I felt safe the whole time! Small group! Nice hot showers and a hot soulmate the end of the Tori:) Git nice pictures!
Black Water Rafting Guided Experience in Waitomo
Rachael Steel
AU

Rachael

5/5
Australia
The whole experience was super fun and insanely enjoyable. The guides were brilliant, the caves amazing and everything was great. Highly recommend
Black Water Rafting Guided Experience in Waitomo

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About Waitomo Caves

Waitomo Glowworm Caves, dating back 30 million years, is a subterranean wonder in New Zealand. Walk through cave passages lighted by the glow of native glowworms. Book your tickets now and explore the geological and cultural treasures of this magical attraction.

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