Combos

Combo (Save 3%): Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour + Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Name: Combo (Save 3%): Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour + Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Start: 2026-05-29T13:30:00
End: 2026-05-29T15:00:00
Location: Waitomo

Spiral walkway inside Ruakuri Cave, New Zealand, illuminated with warm lights.

Person walking through illuminated Ruakuri Cave tunnel, New Zealand.

Group enjoying boat tour in Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand, with glowing ceiling.

Glowworms hanging in Waitomo Caves during a guided tour.

Duration

45 min - 1 hr 30 min

Free cancellation

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

Guided tour

4.6/5(1,528)

Megan C

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

Every gazing moment was W🤩W, for me it was like a moonlit night, shining through the dense canopy of tree tops while floating around inside a cave 'with so much history' ❤️ out of respect for the iwi and the glow worms 🐛 no photo's 📱📸 while visiting the cave, however you can take pics exiting the cave, absolutely beautiful tour guide, he explained the history 👌🏽❤️ answered Q and explained the 'dos and don'ts' all said professionally and with love 'Ka pai u Sasha' Totally recommend 👌🏽 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wayne H

Group

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

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

3 weeks ago

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.

Anderson S

Solo

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

The tour is really interesting, and the guide made the experience even more enjoyable. The firefly part is one-of-a-kind. It’s a shame you can’t take pictures, even without a flash.

Ingrid H

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

This is the second time I have done this tour and this one was a standout. What impressed me after the spectacular caves and gloworms was our guide Zeppelin. This young man has it all, great knowledge and the ability to explain things in a way everyone can understand. He also has admirable people skills, he managed to guide a very diverse group ensuring we adhered to the cave rules while delivering a faultless tour. He was entertaining, funny ( he could be a stand up comedian) yet informative. Zeppelin made a great experience even better ... and he is named after my favourite group.

Sakon S

Group

Verified booking

Apr 2026

Our tour guide, George (Danny De vito or Albert Einstien) He is very get in depth with strory and information about the glowworm and the community. He is also has a sence of humour and a lovable person.

Explore the magical Ruakuri Cave and Waitomo Glowworm Caves with expert local guides and save 3% when you book both together.

Journey through Ruakuri Cave’s twisting passages, crystal-lined walls, and flowing streams on a 1.5-hour guided tour with just 14 people.

Glide silently on a boat beneath thousands of glowworms lighting up the cave ceiling, on a 45-minute tour led by a local Māori guide.

Ruakuri Cave

1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave

English-speaking guide of Maori descent

Waitomo Glowworm Cave

45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Cave

English-speaking guide of Maori descent

Waitomo River boat ride

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

1,528 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.
1K
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Guests from Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 35 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Tyarna O
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
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.
Megan C
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Every gazing moment was W🤩W, for me it was like a moonlit night, shining through the dense canopy of tree tops while floating around inside a cave 'with so much history' ❤️ out of respect for the iwi and the glow worms 🐛 no photo's 📱📸 while visiting the cave, however you can take pics exiting the cave, absolutely beautiful tour guide, he explained the history 👌🏽❤️ answered Q and explained the 'dos and don'ts' all said professionally and with love 'Ka pai u Sasha' Totally recommend 👌🏽 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
John R
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Its just a little dull, caves are mediocre compared to others around the world and it just glow worms, you can see for free in Australia? Good luck with it from a business perspective you extracting everything you already can.
Wayne H
Group
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
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.
Anderson S
Solo
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The tour is really interesting, and the guide made the experience even more enjoyable. The firefly part is one-of-a-kind. It’s a shame you can’t take pictures, even without a flash.

Explore two epic experiences just 15 minutes apart and save 3%. Cruise through the glowworm-lit grotto of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, then dive deep into New Zealand’s longest underground walking tour at Ruakari Cave, all in one day.

Getting started

Your combo ticket gives you access to Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Ruakuri Cave. Both tours are led by local guides of Māori descent, who bring the stories and science of the caves to life. Arrive at each cave at least 30 minutes early and have your ticket ready for check in.

What to expect

Ruakuri Cave

Descend through a spiral entrance: Start your journey with a walk down a lit spiral ramp into the depths of Ruakuri Cave.

Walk through ancient formations: Follow your guide through sculpted tunnels lined with stalactites, stalagmites, and unique ribbon-like formations—some shaped like cascading crystal drapes.

Hear nature at work: Listen to the rumble of distant underground waterfalls and feel the temperature drop as you go deeper below the surface.

Learn sacred stories: Along the way, listen to your guide share Māori legends and the cultural significance of this sacred place.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Explore nature’s underground artwork: Begin by walking through the upper levels of the cave system, where you’ll see limestone columns and delicately carved formations.

Stand in the Cathedral: Enter the tallest chamber in the caves, known for its natural acoustics and incredible scale.

Float beneath the glowworms: Take a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto where thousands of tiny glowworms light up the ceiling, creating a scene that feels like sailing under a galaxy of stars.

What to bring

Ruakari Cave

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).

Waitomo Glowworm Cave

Wear non-slip shoes as the cave floors are wet and slippery.

Bring a warm jacket as the temperature of the cave can be 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

Ruakari Cave

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.

Waitomo Glowworm Cave

Photography and videography are strictly prohibited in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

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

Pets are not allowed inside the cave.

Accessibility

Ruakari Cave

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.

Waitomo Glowworm Cave

This experience is suitable for guests with reasonable mobility, with well-maintained paths and sturdy handrails throughout. However, it is not accessible for wheelchairs or prams/strollers.

Additional information

Ruakari Cave

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

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please display the same at each meeting point along with a valid photo ID.

Meeting points

Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour

Meet your guide at Ruakuri Visitor Centre.

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

Get directions to the meeting point

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Meet your guide at Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

Address: 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand.

Get directions to the meeting point