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Combo (Save 3%): 18904 + 18866

Visitors exploring stalactites in Ruakuri Cave, New Zealand.
Guided walkway through Ruakuri Cave with illuminated limestone formations.
Tourists on a boat admire glowworms in Waitomo Caves, Auckland.
Glowworms illuminate Waitomo Caves' ceiling, casting a blue glow over the water on an Auckland tour.

Duration

45 min - 1 hr 30 min

Open today

9:00am - 5:00pm

Free cancellation

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

4.5/5

(1,470)

Nicholas Farrow

Nicholas

Jan 2026
Verified booking
The tour guide knew a lot of interesting information about the glow worms. It would have been good when we arrived for there to be a sign for those with online tickets to know where to go and for the cafes music to not be so loud as a woman came and spoke about the history and it was hard to hear her over the heavy music which also wasn't loved by our young daughter as it was metal. We all had to talk loudly to hear each other. Other than that, we enjoyed ourselves. It was interesting and very beautiful.
Amelie Ewart

Amelie

Jan 2026
Verified booking
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves boat tour is absolutely magical. Gliding silently through the cave while thousands of glowworms light up the ceiling like a star-filled sky is an unforgettable experience. The calm, darkness, and gentle reflections on the water create a sense of awe you don’t get anywhere else. It’s beautifully run, respectfully guided, and worth every minute, one of those moments that truly stays with you long after it ends. We highly recommend it.✨
Jennifer Cockayne

Jennifer

Mar 2026
Verified booking
The tour was excellent. The guide was friendly, professional and knew her subject. She had the right mix of humour and authority to make everyone feel welcome, relaxed and safe. I had arthritis and limited mobility, so found the stairs hard and was slow. The guide was helpful and supportive in directing me to the stairs and boat. In all a very exciting and pleasant experience. Thank you for making it possible for a slow moving old lady .
 MARTYN CLIFFORD

Martyn

Feb 2026
Verified booking
An excellent self-guided tour starting with the Lady Knox Geyser experience which involved the seeding of a volcanic cone to cause a small geyser eruption. A beautiful waiata sung by the Maori presenter started the show before the climax of the show. The stroll through the largest and most colourful volcanic area in the Taupo volcanic area was awesome. Signage was excellent, very informative, the tracks and wooden pathways well maintained.
Alexander Magyar

Alexander

Feb 2026
Verified booking
The Waitomo Caves are nothing short of spectacular, unbelievable to see the thousands of tiny glowworms shimmering from the cave roof top and the amazing limestone formations. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the caves and Maori culture his presentation was both educational and fun. This is a must see for anyone visiting New Zealand.
RACHAEL ANNE LOUISE BUXTON

Rachael

Jan 2026
Verified booking
The caves, the glow worms, the intimacy and lovely commentary from the tour guide. My only suggestion would be that your tour guides understand the meaning of the Maori songs they're singing. When I asked the lovely youg lady what the songmeant, she didn't know. Not critisism. Just a suggestions. Thanks for a wonderful experience.
  • You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

  • 1,470 reviews

    How do we collect reviews?

    These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.

    1K
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    Guests from Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 35 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Jennifer Cockayne

    Jennifer

    Mar 2026
    Verified booking
    The tour was excellent. The guide was friendly, professional and knew her subject. She had the right mix of humour and authority to make everyone feel welcome, relaxed and safe. I had arthritis and limited mobility, so found the stairs hard and was slow. The guide was helpful and supportive in directing me to the stairs and boat. In all a very exciting and pleasant experience. Thank you for making it possible for a slow moving old lady .
    Beverley  Cooper

    Beverley

    Mar 2026
    Verified booking
    The tour of the cave was very assemble as had wheelchairs ramps Having no stairs made it easy to walking. The guide was full of knowledge and was very happy to answer any questions. She ensured we moved at a reasonable pace but still had time to see all the wonderful formations in the cave.
    Wendy Gladwin

    Wendy

    Mar 2026
    Verified booking
    Our guide! I have been to the caves before but was taking friends from Australia this time, who also loved it. Our guide was informative, funny & a great singer. It's always an amazing feeling to be in a space that was created millions of years ago but is on my doorstep.
    Andrea Hofstetter-Rahn

    Andrea

    Mar 2026
    Verified booking
    It was great. It was also great that it was a guided tour, which meant that my husband could participate in his wheelchair and take part in everything. A big thank you to the cave guide. We can highly recommend this tour.
    Andre Edney

    Andre

    Mar 2026
    Verified booking
    The tour guide was excellent, she knew all the history, explained the life cycle of the glowworm and sang a beautiful song in Maori with all the lights off as the glow was reflected off the stream below. Magic!
  • Waitomo Caves

    Monday9:00am - 5:00pm
    Tuesday9:00am - 5:00pm
    Wednesday9:00am - 5:00pm
    Thursday9:00am - 5:00pm
    Friday9:00am - 5:00pm
    Saturday9:00am - 5:00pm
    Sunday9:00am - 5:00pm
    • 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.

    • Please display the same at each ticket redemption point along with a valid photo ID.

    Meeting points

    Ruakuri Visitor Centre

    • Meet your guide at Ruakuri Visitor Centre.

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

    Get directions to the meeting point

    Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

    • Meet your guide at Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

    • Address: 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand.

    Get directions to the meeting point

Top things to do in Waitomo

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