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Guided Tours

Offbeat Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small Group Guided Tour

Waitomo Glowworm Caves entrance with sunlight filtering through, surrounded by lush greenery.
Glowworms illuminating the Waitomo Caves ceiling during a small group guided tour.
Visitors exploring Waitomo Glowworm Caves with glowing ceiling, New Zealand tour.
Small group exploring Waitomo Glowworm Caves with helmets and headlamps.

Duration

3 hr

Open today

09:00am - 05:00pm

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 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

5.0/5

(59)

Gregor Schmidle

Gregor

Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
The tour is considerably more expensive than the classic "Gloworm Cave Tour" in Waitomo. However, it is worth every penny. The small group size and the experienced tour guide Ash make this couple of hours unforgettable. From logistics, safety, friendlyness, empathy, professinal photos, all adds up to a perfect package. And for those who struggle a bit in dark confined spaces, Ash literally walks and talks you through so that every step is a safe one. Highly recommended!
Carla Badger

Carla

Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
There is nothing less than extrordinary for this tour. Incredible experience, hospitable guides, and time to be with some of the most unique views inside and onto the caves. Ash was an outstanding guide. Quite funny and his connection to the cave really rings through. Don't go to "the other cave."
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..

    • Enjoy an exclusive small-group Waitomo cave adventure with private access, away from the crowds, led by an expert local guide.

    • Gear up with helmet, headlamp, boots, and warm clothing before venturing underground to explore hidden limestone passages and glowworm-lit chambers.

    • Trek through underground streams, climb over boulders, and see stalactites and stalagmites while hearing captivating Māori legends and geological insights.

    • End your journey with hot drinks, cookies, and a chance to relax after your adventure, with free photos to remember the day.

    • 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

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

  • 5
    59 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.

    59
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Guests from United States, Germany, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Gregor Schmidle

    Gregor

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The tour is considerably more expensive than the classic "Gloworm Cave Tour" in Waitomo. However, it is worth every penny. The small group size and the experienced tour guide Ash make this couple of hours unforgettable. From logistics, safety, friendlyness, empathy, professinal photos, all adds up to a perfect package. And for those who struggle a bit in dark confined spaces, Ash literally walks and talks you through so that every step is a safe one. Highly recommended!
    Carla Badger

    Carla

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    There is nothing less than extrordinary for this tour. Incredible experience, hospitable guides, and time to be with some of the most unique views inside and onto the caves. Ash was an outstanding guide. Quite funny and his connection to the cave really rings through. Don't go to "the other cave."
    CHAMPS Maeana

    Champs

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    An incredible experience at Waitomo Caves! The caves are superb and our guide was warm, professional and adorable. An unforgettable experience! 🌟
    Uwe Hoffmann

    Uwe

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Ash was a super friendly and nice guide who made it clear that he enjoyed himself. The tour was individual, fun and exciting at the same time and we would recommend it to anyone.
    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..

  • Skip the crowds and venture into a hidden cave system with an expert guide. This exclusive adventure offers private access, hands-on exploration, and the chance to see glowworms in their most natural setting.

    Getting started

    Your tour begins with a meet-up in Waitomo, where you’ll be greeted by your guide. After a short safety briefing, gear up with all provided equipment, including helmet, headlamp, boots, and warm clothing.

    What to expect

    • Private cave entry: Begin your adventure with exclusive access to a hidden cave system on a family-owned farm, far from the crowded tourist routes.

    • Underground trek: Spend around 2.5 hours exploring twisting limestone passages, underground streams, and chambers lit by thousands of glowworms in their natural habitat.

    • Hands-on exploration: Wade through cool waters, climb over boulders, and discover intricate stalactites and stalagmites up close.

    • Stories & science: Hear fascinating Māori legends tied to the caves and learn about the geology that shaped these formations over millions of years.

    • Post-adventure treat: Return to the surface for hot drinks, cookies, and showers, plus free tour photos to take your glowworm memories home.

  • 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

    • 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 cameras and tripods are not allowed on this experience.

    • This experience is restricted for guests under the age of 12 years and over the weight of 120kg (264.55lb).

    Accessibility

    • Elderly guests or those with mobility issues are restricted from participating in this experience.

    • This experience requires a reasonable level of fitness as it involves 2 hours of hiking to get to Waitomo Glowworm Cave, including climbing over boulders, walking up hills, and wading through streams with rocks underfoot.

    Additional information

    • Facilities: Shower.

    • Caving equipment includes thermals, fleece jumper, shorts, gumboots, socks, helmet & headlamp.

    • Guests under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

    • Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

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

    • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

    Note : This experience involves 2 hours of hiking to get to Waitomo Caves. This involves climbing over boulders, walking up hills, and wading through streams with rocks underfoot, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.

    Meeting point

    • Meet your guide at Down to Earth - Waitomo Eco Tours.

    • Address: 1199 Oparure Road, Waitomo 3985, New Zealand.

    • Landmark: Drive directly to the farmhouse and it is sign posted along the way.

    Get directions to the meeting point

NZ$219
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