Rafting

Ruakuri Cave Black Water Rafting Guided Experience

Duration

3 hrs - 5 hrs

Open today

9:00am - 5:00pm

Free cancellation

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

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

4.8/5(168)

Carol V

Solo

Verified booking

Apr 2026

5-hours of exciting adventures from rappelling, zip lining, floating in an inner tube down the underground stream and then walking on the rocks to the exit.

Brandy S

Group

Verified booking

Mar 2026

We were so fortunate to have Awatea (sp?) as our guide. He shared his voice and musical talents with us to make this a special moment. Later I heard him express that he worried folks will find his singing performative (instead of being a genuine experience). I hope this feedback makes it back to him because I need him to know that there are big places in this world that want their people to think they are the only people that exist, that they are the only people that matter. When Awatea shared the culture of the indigenous peoples, he helps heal some of that ignorance. We NEED him, his gift, and his bravery.

Gabrielle S

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

We had such an amazing time! Our guides were amazing and funny and made all of us strangers come together and socialize that not even trained icebreakers would be able to do. I honestly didn’t realize the experience included so much exercise, like swimming and walking through the cave. We even floated down the river without the tubes, meaning I bumped the ground more than once because my floating is subpar at best, but that made it even better. We even ended up climbing up two small waterfalls (which we definitely weren’t expecting!), and it turned into such a fun adventure. We were laughing and giggling the entire time. Everything felt so well put together, and the little touches made it extra special, especially the cookies, tea, hot chocolate, chocolate bars, and hot soup at the end. It was the perfect way to reward and relax after all the excitement. If you’re looking for something adventurous and memorable, this is absolutely worth it. We’d do it again in a heartbeat!

Joan P

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

We absolutely loved this adventure! From the start, putting on the wet suit to the practice backward jump with the tube to walking through the entrance and experiencing this hidden wonderland it was an incredible experience! We absolutely loved slowly floating on the underground stream with our headlamps off and looking up at the soft twinkle lights of the glow worms made it look like seeing different constellations in the sky plus Anna was singing and made the moment much more memorable! We felt very safe in doing this Blackwater adventure.

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.

168 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.
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5
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Guests from Australia, United States, Canada and over 14 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Hany A
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
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.
Carol V
Solo
Verified booking
Apr 2026
5-hours of exciting adventures from rappelling, zip lining, floating in an inner tube down the underground stream and then walking on the rocks to the exit.
Ryan K
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
Most unexpected brilliant experience, i would highly recommend booking with Black water who have a great team and packages to suit everybody!
Alan M
Solo
Verified booking
Apr 2026
Magical adventure. Great guides , good communication and knowledge.

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.