Rafting

Ruakuri Cave Black Water Rafting & Abseiling Guided Experience

4.7/5(41)

Adina K

Solo

Verified booking

5 days ago

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

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.

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.

41 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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Guests from Australia, United States, Israel and over 7 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Adina K
Solo
Verified booking
5 days ago
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.
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.
Patricia K
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
The abseiling into the cave was awesome!

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.

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