Outdoor Activities

Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour

Visitors exploring Ruakuri Cave on a guided tour, New Zealand.

Family exploring stalactites in Ruakuri Cave during guided tour.

Visitors exploring stalactites in Ruakuri Cave, New Zealand.

Ruakuri Cave passage with illuminated walkway and limestone formations.

Duration

1 hr 30 min

Free cancellation

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

Guided tour

Mobile ticket

Marvel at the captivating beauty of the magical Ruakari Cave with a remarkable spiral entrance and home to thousands of glowworms on this mystical guided tour!

4.5/5

(286)

David

Apr 2025

Verified booking

Tickets were bought before travel so that experience was simple. The guided tour was good and the guide was informative which made the tour fun. However, as an older person in my 70's it was a little dark in places and I had to be careful when moving. Also when we arrived there was little signage as there are more than one set of caves. Overall the trip was worthwhile.

Louis

Feb 2025

Verified booking

The overall experience was awsome. First of all the ticketing process went without a hitch and the phone app worked as expected. The cave experience was out of this world. The tour guide was so informative and we learned a lot about the workings of a cave and the life cycle of the glow worms.

Thomas

Feb 2025

Verified booking

The tour and the cave were really nice and our guide knowledable and friendly. I didn`t rate "awesome" because it wasn't clear to me out of the information of your homepage that the glowworm-part would be relativly small, I had expected a larger glowworm-experience.

Stroll through the solar-powered Ruakuri Cave, a natural wonder adorned with glowworms.

Venture down the dramatic spiral entrance and witness tiny creatures that make the cave sparkle like a night sky up close.

Join the longest underground walking tour in Waitiomo Caves and learn about the myths and legends of the cave from the local guide.

With photography allowed, you’ll be able to capture your memories of this remarkable underground world.

Did you know? Ruakuri Cave is one of the few wheelchair and pushchair-accessible caves in the world!

1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave

English-speaking guide of Maori descent

Small group of up to 14 people

Wheelchair accessible

Photography allowed

Entry to Ruakuri Cave

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

How do we collect reviews?
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286 ratings
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Guests from Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 25 countries have loved this experience
Bipin
Jul, 2025Verified booking
5/5
The Ruakuri Cave tour was an stunning experience! From the ticket booking to the tour -- well planned and customer centric. The guide was well explained and friendly. Recommended...
Grillet
May, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Our guide was exceptional and what we saw had a touch of mystic. We could feel the mana of the cave and learned about its importance in Maori culture!
Christie
Jul, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Amazing to see the tunnels and the guide was amazing and efficient
Linda
Jun, 2025Verified booking
5/5
The boat trip, serene and beautiful.
Jenny
Jul, 2025Verified booking
5/5
Kia ora. Our family had a great tour and were impressed with the tour guide, and attention to safety. It wa an experience we won't forget.

A dreamy escape to Ruakuri Cave

On this magical adventure, you will discover the spectacular Ruakuri Cave, powered by 100% renewable energy. What’s more, this dreamy experience is open for all with full wheelchair and pushchair access. You will walk down the illuminated spiral entrance to discover unique limestone formations formed over the years and enchanting crystal tapestries. Be sure to have your comfortable walking shoes on since the Ruakuri Cave is New Zealand's longest-guided underground walking tour!

Walk among the stars of the cave

The most ethereal part of the tour is when you come across the magnificent glowworms in a spectacular display. You’ll learn about these beautiful bio-luminescent creatures and the fascinating history of the cave from your tour guide. You can take your cameras out and capture the magical moment with thousands of glowworms decorating the cave like a starry night. Also, hear the thunder and burbles of distant subterranean waterfalls as you explore the underground natural wonder.

What to bring

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).

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair accessible and has pram/stroller accessibility.

Wheelchair/stroller width must not exceed 65cm.

Additional information

Photography and video are permitted in selected areas of the cave.

It's recommended to wear a warm jacket along with comfortable shoes as this experience involves a fair amount of walking.

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 visit to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at Ruakuri Visitor Centre

Address: 204, Tumutumu Road, Waitomo Caves 3985, New Zealand

Get Directions to the Meeting Point