Rafting

Ruakuri Cave Black Water Rafting & Abseiling Guided Experience

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

9:00am - 5:00pm

Free cancellation

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

Guided tour

4.7/5(39)

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.

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!

Matthias G

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

We had a wonderful time in the Ruakuri cave with our fabulous guides Harry and Paddi. They made us feel safe in every situation and showed us what it's like living the wild life. Really liked the glowworms. Magical views. Sweet as.

Elisa M

Couple

Verified booking

Feb 2026

It's an incredible natural resource and a very unique experience. The guides are friendly and professional and make you feel safe while also having the adventure of a lifetime!

Stefan K

Group

Verified booking

Jan 2026

A great mix of action (abseiling, ziplining, climbing, and crawling through the cave passages) and enjoying the glowing webs of fly larvae on the cave ceiling.

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.

39 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 United States, Germany, Australia and over 7 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Natalia D
Couple
Verified booking
Yesterday
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!
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!
Matthias G
Couple
Verified booking
Feb 2026
We had a wonderful time in the Ruakuri cave with our fabulous guides Harry and Paddi. They made us feel safe in every situation and showed us what it's like living the wild life. Really liked the glowworms. Magical views. Sweet as.

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