Outdoor Activities

Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour

4.7/5(367)

Wayne H

Group

Verified booking

May 2026

You really have to do cave tour that was highlight of our day. Absolutely gorgeous. How lucky are we to live in a beautiful country , tour guide was absolutely great.

Tyarna O

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

The caves were beautiful, our guide T've was very informative and funny, and we had a great time! Lots of history and fun facts, a very cool experience.

Beverley C

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

The tour of the cave was very assemble as had wheelchairs ramps Having no stairs made it easy to walking. The guide was full of knowledge and was very happy to answer any questions. She ensured we moved at a reasonable pace but still had time to see all the wonderful formations in the cave.

Andrea H

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

It was great. It was also great that it was a guided tour, which meant that my husband could participate in his wheelchair and take part in everything. A big thank you to the cave guide. We can highly recommend this tour.

Andre E

Group

Verified booking

Mar 2026

The tour guide was excellent, she knew all the history, explained the life cycle of the glowworm and sang a beautiful song in Maori with all the lights off as the glow was reflected off the stream below. Magic!

Bridget W

Couple

Verified booking

Mar 2026

Had an amazing tour of the cave, got to see gloworms, cave formations and lots of educational stories. Well thought out path created that made it easy to explore. Highly recommend this tour.

Join a 1.5-hour tour of Ruakuri Cave, exploring impressive rock formations and the magical glow of thousands of glowworms.

Stroll through wheelchair-friendly routes featuring beautiful limestone formations, underground rivers, and iconic sites such as The Drum Passage and The Pretties.

Listen to engaging Māori legends and fascinating facts shared by guides descended from the original Māori explorers of the cave.

1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave

English-speaking guide of Maori descent

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

367 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, Australia, Germany and over 18 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Greg R
Couple
Verified booking
5 days ago
Very clean and modern, great hosts, couldn't be better.
Praneel K
Family
Verified booking
Jul 2026
Just amazing. Chance to get very close to glow worms. Tour guide was great with very good sense of humor. Best cave tour in NZ.
Sean D
Family
Verified booking
Jul 2026
One of the best family experiences highly recomend the combo the staff are 10/10
Whitney J
Family
Verified booking
Jul 2026
It was a fantastic visit - everything as described. Thanks so much!
Darron G
Couple
Verified booking
Jun 2026
Wxcellent tour in a beautiful cave.

Sail through an underground wonder on a tranquil boat ride beneath thousands of glowworms on a 45-minute tour of Waitomo Glowworm Cave, guided by an expert guide and surrounded by the cave’s beauty.

Getting started

Your ticket includes a 1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave. Arrive 30 minutes early to check in and join your group before heading to the cave entrance.

What to expect

Guided cave walk: Begin your journey by descending the spectacular spiral entrance into Ruakuri Cave, a solar-powered underground wonder shaped by nature over millions of years.

Stunning limestone formations: See delicate shawl-like limestone formations, crystal tapestries, and explore notable sites including Holdens Cavern, The Drum Passage and The Ghost Passage.

Glowworms up close: Experience thousands of glowworms illuminating the cave, and learn about their fascinating life cycle on this magical subterranean tour.

Accessible and sustainable: Enjoy a fully wheelchair- and stroller-accessible path throughout the cave and visitor centre, both powered by 100% renewable energy.

Engaging storytelling: Hear fascinating stories about the cave’s history, geology, and Māori legends from knowledgeable guides descended from the original explorers.

What to bring

Bring a warm jacket as the cave can get cool.

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

Large backpacks are not allowed inside the cave.

Smoking, food, drink or litter are not allowed inside the cave.

Pets are not allowed inside the cave.

Accessibility

This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible. Please note that the wheelchair and pram/ stroller should not exceed a width of 65cm due to the narrow passageways in the cave.

Additional information

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

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