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Rafting

Ruakuri Cave Black Water Rafting & Abseiling Guided Experience

Person abseiling in a dark cave during a guided black water rafting experience in Waitomo.
Caver descending in Waitomo cave during Black Abyss tour with zip lining and rafting.
Person ziplining in Waitomo Cave with glowworms illuminating the cave walls.
Person ziplining through a cave during a Black Water Rafting experience in Waitomo.

Duration

5 hr

Open today

09:00am - 05:00pm

Free cancellation

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

Guided tour

    • Go on a 5-hour black water rafting adventure at Ruakarui Cave, complete with abseiling, ziplining, tubing, and glowworms.

    • Abseil 35m into the cave, zipline through glowworm tunnels, and tube along fast-flowing underground waters.

    • Your expert guide will provide instructions, safety tips, and fascinating insights on the cave’s formations and glowworms.

    • Take a short break to enjoy a snack, then finish your adventure with a warm shower and comforting soup after an unforgettable multi-activity experience.

    • 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.

  • 4.5
    25 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.

    14
    10
    1
    0
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    What our guests say

    Michael Luckow

    Michael

    Apr 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Ellen and Paddy were awesome guides!!
    Megan Birch

    Megan

    Mar 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The was truly a once in a lifetime experience! It was a fantastic combination of adrenaline rush fun, interesting local and cultural knowledge, and marveling at the natural world. Our guides were knowledgeable, fun, and kind. We felt at ease and well looked after throughout. I would highly recommend this experience.
    Headout Guest

    Headout Guest

    Nov 2024
    Verified booking
    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!
    Headout Guest

    Headout Guest

    Nov 2024
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Excellent tour with excellent guides Hannah and Katie. Despite being in our sixties and a little nervous ( although reasonably fit) we had a great afternoon. The guides explained everything and were attentive and watchful and we felt in safe competent hands. The highlight was floating through the black caves seeing the vivid glowworm show above us.
    Headout Guest

    Headout Guest

    Nov 2024
    Verified booking
    5/5
    My partner and I had a great time doing this! I’m somewhat apprehensive when it comes to water (especially in the dark) but really wanted to do something different to see the glow worms and I’m so glad I did. Felt completely safe the whole time and had great fun. Definitely recommend.
  • Experience black water rafting at Ruakuri Cave on a full-day adventure. Abseil, zipline, tube, and climb through glowworm-lit caves with an expert guide.

    Getting started

    Meet your expert guide at the Ruakuri Cave base. They will provide a safety briefing, fit your wetsuit, helmet, abseiling gear, and tubing equipment, and teach you the basic abseiling and tubing techniques needed for the cave journey.

    What to expect

    • Abseil into Ruakuri Cave: Descend 35 metres into the depths of the glowworm-lit cave under expert guidance.

    • Zipline through the cave: Fly along a zipline through pitch-black tunnels beneath thousands of glowing Arachnocampa Luminosa.

    • Snack break: Enjoy a quick snack during the tour to recharge for the next adrenaline activity.

    • Tube and underground rafting: Grab your tube and float through fast-flowing underground waters, navigating rapids and exploring the cave’s natural channels.

    • Climb waterfalls and rock formations: Use the buoyancy of your wetsuit to climb over rocks and ascend underground waterfalls, with your guide assisting at every step.

    • Hot shower & soup: After completing your adventure, warm up with a long-awaited hot shower and a comforting soup.

  • Waitomo Caves

    Monday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Thursday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Friday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Saturday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Sunday09:00am - 05:00pm
  • 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 16 years and under 45kg 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

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