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Guided Tours

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Family exploring stalactites in Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand.
Visitors exploring Waitomo Glowworm Caves with a guide holding a flashlight.
Glowworms hanging in Waitomo Caves during a guided tour.
Visitors admiring glowworms in Waitomo Glowworm Caves during guided tour.

Duration

1 hr - 7 hr

Open today

09:00am - 05:00pm

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

4.6/5

(1,346)

Cara Hedley

Cara

Sep 2025
Verified booking
5/5
If you are looking for a more personal tour, away from the crowds, this will be for you. We always look to use smaller operators and this family business ticked all the boxes for us. From the start, getting kitted up in our Thermal finery. To the walk though the family property to the caves. Ash was a gentleman, lots of funny stories and always making sure you were safe. The caves were stunning and you were definitely on a road less traveled. The Glow Worms were amazing and you could spend hours looking at what shapes the water had created in the rocks and calcium deposits. Thank you Ash & Michelle and good luck finding the 7 undiscovered caves in the area..
Lauren Jayne Thompson

Lauren

Sep 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The most amazing cave experience highly rate this over the bigger cave experiences in waitomo, it's small and intimate smaller group upto 6 max 8, you get amazing photos and can take your own in the caves, they provide you with all your gear, the glow worms were amazing lots of them to see it certainly was an adventure definitely recommend, I'll be going back! You won't be disappointed in booking this!
Jaiden Patel

Jaiden

Aug 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Loved our cave experience seeing glow worms and stone formations. Our tour guide was funny, friendly, knowledgeable and local. He was able to explain the history and significance in a way that was engaging. Limited walking required and excellent boat ride at the end in the dark.

    • Explore the Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a 45-minute guided tour featuring a serene boat ride beneath thousands of glowing worms.

    • Walk through stunning limestone formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and the towering Cathedral chamber.

    • Hear captivating stories and legends from expert guides descended from the Māori chief who first explored the caves.

    • Upgrade to the 1.5-hour Ruakuri accessible cave tour or the full-day Waitomo tour from Auckland with transfers for a longer, richer experience.

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

    • 45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Gloworm Cave

    • English-speaking guide of Maori descent

    • Waitomo River boat ride

    Ruakuri Cave Guided Tour (as per option selected)

    • 1.5-hour guided tour of Ruakuri Cave

    • English-speaking guide of Maori descent

    Offbeat Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small-Group Guided Tour (as per option selected)

    • 3.5-hour guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Cave

    • Exclusive access to a private cave system on a family farm

    • Expert local guide

    • Small group of up to 8 people

    • Safety equipment & warm clothing

    • Snack & hot drinks

    From Auckland: Waitomo Glowworm Cave Guided Tour (as per option selected)

    • 45-minute guided tour of Waitomo Gloworm Cave

    • Round-trip hotel transfers from Auckland CBD

    • English-speaking guide/driver

    • Waitomo River boat ride

    • Snacks & water

  • You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

  • 4.6
    1,346 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.

    942
    281
    70
    28
    25
    Guests from Australia, United States, Germany and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Harley Prohm

    Harley

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Waitamo caves were my first experience with glow worms and they did not disappoint. Very friendly staff at every point from start to beginning. The two tour guides were awesome and knowledgeable and a very funny duo (one was learning the job, good luck Lucas). Highly recommend.
    Richard Tacon

    Richard

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The guide was fantastic Walkways and low lighting was great The silence on the boat was very pleasant
    Cara Hedley

    Cara

    Sep 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    If you are looking for a more personal tour, away from the crowds, this will be for you. We always look to use smaller operators and this family business ticked all the boxes for us. From the start, getting kitted up in our Thermal finery. To the walk though the family property to the caves. Ash was a gentleman, lots of funny stories and always making sure you were safe. The caves were stunning and you were definitely on a road less traveled. The Glow Worms were amazing and you could spend hours looking at what shapes the water had created in the rocks and calcium deposits. Thank you Ash & Michelle and good luck finding the 7 undiscovered caves in the area..
    Lauren Jayne Thompson

    Lauren

    Sep 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The most amazing cave experience highly rate this over the bigger cave experiences in waitomo, it's small and intimate smaller group upto 6 max 8, you get amazing photos and can take your own in the caves, they provide you with all your gear, the glow worms were amazing lots of them to see it certainly was an adventure definitely recommend, I'll be going back! You won't be disappointed in booking this!
    Timothy P Rabbitte

    Timothy

    Sep 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Our visit was early in the week during winter, so not very busy, which make the experience very pleasant. Great guides, clear speakers, both the cave walk and glow worm boat ride were lovely. I thought good value for the money.

  • 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 45-minute guided tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Arrive 30-minutes earlier to check in and meet your group before following your guide into the cave.

    What to expect

    • Towering Kahikatea canopy: Kick off your adventure zipping between 100-year-old native trees, surrounded by sweeping views of Waitomo’s limestone hills.

    • Building the thrill: Ease in with shorter, gentler lines before graduating to longer, faster rides, hitting speeds of up to 80 km/h.

    • Stories of the land: Learn Māori legends and local history from guides whose knowledge and passion bring the landscape to life.

    • Show-stopping finale: Conquer the 280m signature zipline, soaring over the Waitomo Caves with panoramic views you’ll never forget.

    • Guided every step: Relax knowing expert guides handle your safety gear, offer tips, and capture the highlights along the way.

    • After the ride: Return to base buzzing with adrenaline, ready to share epic photos and stories from your high-flying Waitomo adventure.

  • Waitomo Caves

    Monday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Thursday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Friday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Saturday09:00am - 05:00pm
    Sunday09:00am - 05:00pm

  • What to bring

    • 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

    • 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

    • 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.

    • Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

    • Please arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

    • Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

    Meeting point

    • Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.
from
NZ$81
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