Rafting

Ruakuri Cave Black Water Rafting Guided Experience

Join a 3-hour black water rafting adventure in Ruakuri Cave, combining underground tubing, small waterfall jumps, and magical glowworm displays.

Float beneath a glittering glowworm ceiling, weave through limestone passages, and take the plunge off low, safe waterfalls.

Learn about Maori myths, the glowworm’s unique life cycle, and caving techniques from your knowledgeable guide during the journey.

Pause mid-tour for complimentary snacks, then return to The Base for a hot shower after an unforgettable glowworm-lit rafting journey.

Opt for the 5-hour black water rafting tour for a bigger challenge, featuring added thrills like abseiling, ziplining, and scaling underground waterfalls.

Black Water Rafting

3-hour black water rafting tour at Ruakuri Cave

Rafting & tubing at Ruakuri Cave

Expert guide

Safety briefing, training & equipment kit (footwear, tubes, wetsuits, helmets, abseiling devices)

Black Water Rafting, Ziplining & Abseiling (as per option selected)

5-hour black water rafting tour at Ruakuri Cave

Ziplining, abseiling & tubing at Ruakuri Cave

Expert guide

Safety briefing, training & equipment kit (footwear, tubes, wetsuits, helmets, abseiling devices)

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

172 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.
139
27
5
1
0
Guests from Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 14 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Adina K
Solo
Verified booking
Sep 2026
I really enjoyed thw amazing guides Ollie and aria they really made the experience so much more fun then it already was. I loved how we got 2 experience everything. From chiling out and seeing thw glow warms 2 climbing up a waterfall and sliding down a slide. The guides made us feel very comfortable and safe 2 do what we felt comfortable about and not 2 do what we didn't want 2. Thank you very much for this wonderful experience. Worth every penny
Hany A
Couple
Verified booking
Jul 2026
Unique and exhilarating. Very well Taken care of
Natalia D
Couple
Verified booking
May 2026
The explanation about the glow worm and the waterfalls to leave the cave.
Melissa P
Couple
Verified booking
2 days ago
Karolina K
Couple
Verified booking
5 days ago

Experience New Zealand’s most famous underground tubing adventure, the 3-hour Black Labyrinth at Ruakuri Cave. Float, jump, and weave your way through glowworm-lit waters on this rafting tour with expert guides.

Getting started

Meet your guide at the Ruakuri Cave base, where you’ll be given a safety briefing and fitted with your wetsuit, helmet, and tubing gear. Your guide will walk you through basic tubing techniques before you head underground.

What to expect

Enter the cave through a rock hole: Slip into the cool waters and instantly feel the excitement as you’re surrounded by the cave’s natural limestone walls.

Underground tubing & gentle rapids: Float through twisting channels, navigate small rapids, and drift quietly beneath a glittering ceiling of thousands of glowworms (Arachnocampa Luminosa).

Local legends & glowworm facts: Hear fascinating Maori legends and learn about the glowworms’ unique life cycle as you journey through the dark.

Waterfall jumps: For an extra rush, take the plunge from low underground waterfalls, perfectly safe yet thrilling enough to get your adrenaline pumping.

Snack break: Pause mid-tour to enjoy complimentary snacks and recharge before the final stretch.

Return & refresh: After your adventure, enjoy a hot shower back at The Base, then relax at the on-site café.

What to bring

Bring your towel, swimwear, shower gel, and shampoo for the adventure.

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

Camera equipment, tripod, selfie sticks, and GoPro are strictly prohibited in Ruakari Cave.

Guests aged under 12 years and under 45kg and over 130kg are restricted from participating in this experience.

Smoking, food, drink or litter are not allowed inside the cave.

Pets are not allowed inside the cave.

Accessibility

The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, pram/stroller users, people with mobility issues, people with back and neck problems, and guests who don't have a moderate fitness level or are too small.

Additional information

Facilities: Lockers, changing rooms, hot showers.

This experience operates only with a minimum of 2 guests.

No prior caving experience is needed. However, a good level of fitness is required.

You do need to be comfortable in the water. However, swimming is not a necessity. You will have a floating tube and expert guides for this experience.

Your guide will take photos of you on your tour, which you can purchase after the tour.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.

Address: 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand.

Get Directions to the Meeting Point

Getting There

By Car

Take route 'New Zealand State Highway 3' to reach the meeting point.

Similar experiences you'd love

Top things to do in Waitomo

Person walking through illuminated Ruakuri Cave passage, New Zealand.

Ruakuri Cavefrom NZ$85

Children observing stalactites and stalagmites inside Aranui Cave, New Zealand.

Aranui Cavefrom NZ$85

Caver exploring narrow passage in Okohua Glowworm Cave, Waitomo Experience tour.

Okohua Glowworm Cavefrom NZ$269

Tourists on a boat in Waitomo Caves, Auckland, viewing glowworms on the cave ceiling.

Waitomo Glowworm Cavesfrom NZ$207

Browse by themes

Parks in Waitomo

View all Waitomo Attractions

Nearby cities to explore

Things to do in Rotorua

Things to do in Auckland

Things to do in Franz Josef

Things to do in Christchurch

Things to do in Te Anau

Things to do in Queenstown

Things to do in Milford Sound

Things to do in Invercargill

Things to do in Sydney

Things to do in Denarau Island

Trusted by over 57 million guests worldwide

100% booking protection

You are fully protected end-to-end. If anything is off, we'll fix it or refund you.

Book with flexibility

Book stress-free with free cancellation and pay-later options on most experiences.

24/7 trip support

We're always a tap away - before, during and after your trip, in all languages.

Verified reviews from real travellers. Trusted by guests worldwide.