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

45 mins - 7 hrs

Open today

9:00am - 5:00pm

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(1,599)

Mark L

Group

Verified booking

4 days ago

The commentary from the guide, Ashton, was very informative and entertaining. He also gave us a lovely rendition of a famous New Zealand song, Po Kare Kare Ana. Well worth the visit.

Masoud M

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The last time I visited the glowworm caves must have been 30 odd years ago. I am amazed how much you have improvement you have made to the place. It's truly wonderful. I congratulate you all for this achievement. Our guide was "Ocean" and we loved his commentary. He is very knowledgeable and extremely funny. Regards Masoud

Megan C

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

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 👌🏽 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Susan B

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

Loved the pristine and tranquil surroundings. Loved the mystery of climbing through caves. Loved the variety oy limestone formations Loved learning about glow worms. Loved the magic of a cave lit up with thousands of glow worms. Ash was an amazing guide!

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.

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.

1,599 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.
1.1K
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Guests from Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 35 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Masoud M
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The last time I visited the glowworm caves must have been 30 odd years ago. I am amazed how much you have improvement you have made to the place. It's truly wonderful. I congratulate you all for this achievement. Our guide was "Ocean" and we loved his commentary. He is very knowledgeable and extremely funny. Regards Masoud
Mark L
Group
Verified booking
4 days ago
The commentary from the guide, Ashton, was very informative and entertaining. He also gave us a lovely rendition of a famous New Zealand song, Po Kare Kare Ana. Well worth the visit.
Sue B
Family
Verified booking
Jun 2026
Fantastic tour guide, knowledgable, funny and a great personalised tour for our 8 family members.
Darron G
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Wxcellent tour in a beautiful cave.
Megan C
Couple
Verified booking
May 2026
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 👌🏽 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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.

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.

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

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.