Guided Tours

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

4.6/5(1,658)

Linda P

Family

Verified booking

2 days ago

Very informative, learned a lot about the life cycle of the glow worms, lovely and friendly guide, surreal seeing the glow worms gently floating on the water, just beautiful!

Michael F

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Ash was a fantastic guide who gave us so much interesting information about the cave delivered with constant humour. We felt safe the entire time we were in the cave and Ash was constantly monitoring our safety as we traversed the more difficult areas of the cave. The entire experience was so much better than a commercialised venue. There were no gimmicks just real life caving resulting in a spectacular Glowworm display. The facilities at the office were clean and everything we needed was supplied. Thanks Ash for your enthusiasm, entertainment and professionalism. Michael and Dena. Busselton Western Australia.

Tracy M

Couple

Verified booking

4 days ago

Amazing seeing ancient nature that has such wonderful cultural significance for the Māori people. Our hosts were incredibly friendly, a little bit cheeky, and very knowledgeable.

Lyndel W

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Ruakuri Cave A magnificent tour, easy walking with no stairs, the circular walkway down is beautiful. Our guide "Scuba" was excellent with commentary and answering questions.

Anthony K

Family

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Our tour guide ( sorry forgot his name but we were in the 2.00pm groulp oon Sat 12/9 ) was exceptional. The sobg he sung in the Cathedral was very memorable.

Abigail C

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

We had a new tour guide who was on his first week. You could tell at the start he was nervous but really grew into it as the tour progressed. He was so sweet and interactive with the children and even handled the situation of a special needs individual needing a little bit more space and time

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.

1,658 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 Australia, United States, United Kingdom and over 32 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Michael F
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Ash was a fantastic guide who gave us so much interesting information about the cave delivered with constant humour. We felt safe the entire time we were in the cave and Ash was constantly monitoring our safety as we traversed the more difficult areas of the cave. The entire experience was so much better than a commercialised venue. There were no gimmicks just real life caving resulting in a spectacular Glowworm display. The facilities at the office were clean and everything we needed was supplied. Thanks Ash for your enthusiasm, entertainment and professionalism. Michael and Dena. Busselton Western Australia.
Abigail C
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
We had a new tour guide who was on his first week. You could tell at the start he was nervous but really grew into it as the tour progressed. He was so sweet and interactive with the children and even handled the situation of a special needs individual needing a little bit more space and time
Tracy M
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
Amazing seeing ancient nature that has such wonderful cultural significance for the Māori people. Our hosts were incredibly friendly, a little bit cheeky, and very knowledgeable.
Lyndel W
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Ruakuri Cave A magnificent tour, easy walking with no stairs, the circular walkway down is beautiful. Our guide "Scuba" was excellent with commentary and answering questions.
Linda P
Family
Verified booking
2 days ago
Very informative, learned a lot about the life cycle of the glow worms, lovely and friendly guide, surreal seeing the glow worms gently floating on the water, just beautiful!

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.