New Zealand is one of the most breathtaking countries in the world, which makes it surprisingly difficult to decide what to do while visiting.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel all over NZ, and one of the sights that I’d recommend to anyone is the Waitomo Caves. Exploring these caves is like stepping into a sort of fairy tale, complete with mystical underground chambers illuminated by thousands of glowworms.
I’ve gone ahead and detailed the 5 top Waitomo Caves tours that are well worth the time and money, with expert guides to lead the way. Let’s jump right in!
Best Tours of the Waitomo Caves
| Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour | Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour | Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
 |  |  | |
| Location: | 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves 3977 | Waitomo Caves, Waitomo District | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Start: | 9:00, 9:30 AM & 1:00 PM | 11:00 AM, 12:00 & 1:00, 3:00 PM | 6:00 AM |
| Duration: | 5 hours | 45 minutes | 13 hours |
| Includes: | Abseiling techniques training (if option chosen), tubes, wetsuits, boots, helmets, abseiling devices and safety equipment, hot shower | Entry Tickets - Waitomo, guided boat trip, Local guide, Goods and Services Tax (GST) | Small group & fully guided tour, entry Tickets - Waitomo and Te Puia, bottled water, snacks |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Waitomo Cave Tours For 2024
- Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
- Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland
- Rotorua and Waitomo Caves Day Trip from Auckland -Smaller Groups
- 75-Minute Guided Ruakuri Cave Tour Waitomo
Waitomo Caves Tour Reviews
1. Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour
- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves 3977
- Departure Time: 9:00, 9:30 AM & 1:00 PM
- Includes: Abseiling techniques training (if option chosen), the use of equipment such as tubes, wetsuits, boots, helmets, abseiling devices (if option chosen) and safety equipment, complimentary hot shower
New Zealand is a land full of unforgiving, incredible landscapes that will leave you questioning whether you’re still on planet Earth. However, the Waitomo Caves manage to stay near the top of my list for the landmarks that have impressed me the most.
The Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour remains one of my favorite ways to see this underground wonder, with expert guides who make for a fun and educational experience.
Perhaps the only aspect I didn’t absolutely love about the tour was that they didn’t include complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off.
However, locating their rafting company offices was still quite easy – just make sure you have cold-weather clothing (the wetsuits and footwear will be provided depending on the option booked).
Our guides were very funny, kind, and did a great job of making sure everyone received personalized attention throughout.
I should mention that we did have the option to choose between the Labyrinth tour (a 3-hour cave tubing adventure) or the Black Abyss tour (a 5-hour adventure including rappelling down limestone walls)!
Expand To See More
We chose the latter as we really wanted the full experience, and we’re adrenaline junkies, so we knew we’d love the rappelling as it included instructors to guide us.
Starting things out, we went on an inner tube down the incredible underground river at the caves, even going down a waterfall and rock slide!
After that, we rappelled over 100 feet into the Ruakuri Cave, which seemed to never end! We were able to zipline through all kinds of beautiful glowworms, climbing underground waterfalls, learning about everything along the way.
Our guides did a great job of instructing us, making sure everyone stayed safe and confident throughout the entire tour.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Departure: Waitomo Caves, Waitomo District
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM, 12:00 & 1:00, 3:00 PM
- Includes: Guided boat tripLocal guide, Goods and Services Tax (GST)
If you’re looking to explore the Waitomo Caves but are on a tight budget or simply don’t have the flexibility in your itinerary for a longer tour, this is the one for you.
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour clocks in at around an hour long, and while it doesn’t include a hotel pickup and drop-off, it’s very easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules.
While it’s a shorter tour, they pack in a lot of info and an utterly beautiful experience in a place unlike any other in the world.
With a small-group setting, you don’t have to worry about being lost in the crowd – expect personalized attention from your guide and have the ability to ask any questions you may have.
We had to head to the caves, but we loved the beautiful drive, which was very easy to do and not tiring at all.
The unique landscapes of New Zealand are neverending, and seeing it on a relaxing drive is quite pleasant. We were able to choose among various tour start times, selecting the one that worked best for us.
Expand To See More
Once we arrived at the caves, our guides were nice and welcoming, taking us to the giant cave complex to tour by food.
I loved stopping at the Cathedral Cave, which was really exciting for me as I’m a big fan of acoustics – especially natural wonders that sound like this.
We then took a relaxing, yet wondrous cruise through the famous Glowworm Grotto, which felt like some kind of surreal ride from a theme park or something!
The blue, bioluminescent bugs twinkled, lighting up the caves in a mysterious way as we learned all about what makes them glow. We also learned quite a bit about the geological, historical, and cultural background of these caves, which was a great way to spend an afternoon!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland
- Duration: 13 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 6:00 AM
- Includes: Small group & fully guided tour, entry Tickets – Waitomo and Te Puia, bottled water, snacks
This next tour is simply an unforgettable adventure that combines rich culture and history with adventure and geology! The Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland encompasses all of that and more, with easy, round-trip travel from the city.
If you’re on the hunt for a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, this is a great way to do so.
I appreciated the fact that our guide picked us right up from our hotel so we didn’t have to book separate transport – especially considering that we started first thing in the morning!
The drive was nice and relaxing, starting with a scenic drive through the picturesque countryside stretching as far as the eye can see. As we cruised along, our guide did a great job of sharing interesting historical and cultural information as we passed various sites.
When we arrived at the Waitomo Caves, I was blown away by the mesmerizing sight of countless twinkling glowworms like a star-studded sky.
Expand To See More
Stepping aboard a boat, we glided silently through the underground labyrinth while learning about the geology that makes it possible. After that, we continued on to Rotorua, known for its geothermal magic and rich Maori culture – stopping for some tasty coffee in a little village on the way.
The guided driving tour took us to some of the most famous sites in Rotorua, like the lake, the museum, Government Gardens, Rachel Spring, and the Blue Baths!
We even got to try Manuka Honey and pick up some unique souvenirs, which took a load off my shoulders. All in all, this was a more relaxing way to see not only the caves, but to enjoy the tranquil countryside and natural beauty while appreciating the culture.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Rotorua and Waitomo Caves Day Trip from Auckland -Smaller Groups
- Duration: 13 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 6:25 AM
- Includes: Transport by air-conditioned minivan, live commentary on board, local taxes, buffet lunch at Te Puia, luxury minibus, leather seating – extra
This next tour carries quite a few similarities to the previous one, with some very notable differences. You’ll get the chance to have a delicious buffet lunch at a special stop, learn about Maori culture, and many other fascinating activities.
The Rotorua and Waitomo Caves Day Trip from Auckland – Smaller Groups Tour will show you the Arachnocampa luminosa, solely found in New Zealand, in one of the most beautiful settings out there.
Just like the previous tour, this adventure includes a convenient hotel pickup and drop-off, so you truly get to just sit back and enjoy the entire time.
Our guide was not only well-versed in the background of everywhere we went, but was an overall amazing person who made our tour that much more special. The weather on the day we went was a bit rainy in the morning and ended up being sunny in the afternoon so be prepared for everything!
Starting off early in the morning, we took full advantage of the day and made our way first to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute to learn about and see wood carving, weaving, and even bone carving!
Expand To See More
We then took a quick stroll around the gorgeous Lake Rotorua before arriving in Te Puia, where we had a delicious lunch before exploring mud pools, hot springs, geysers, and many other geothermic features!
I took some amazing photos and videos, having plenty of opportunity to appreciate the different sites without being rushed.
Last but certainly not least, we headed to the famous Waitomo Caves to learn all about the unique Arachnocampa luminosa, local to just New Zealand. We walked into the cave for a guided tour, and on the way out, took a little boat cruising down the river into an outdoor forest!
It was such an amazingly cool experience filled with historical and geological wonders, that I’d recommend it to anyone of any age or background.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. 75-Minute Guided Ruakuri Cave Tour Waitomo
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Departure: Varies
- Departure Time: 10:00 AM, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 PM
- Includes: Local guide and tour
This is my only other recommended “short” tour of the Waitomo Caves, which packs in a ton of fun and educational opportunities while still offering a tour that’s easy to fit into any schedule.
The 75-Minute Guided Ruakuri Cave Tour Waitomo is an intimate experience in the form of a small-group walking tour that really feels like an old friend is taking you around one of the places they know best. Oh, and did I mention it’s also a super budget-friendly tour option?
If you’re looking to explore the caves with children or are worried that your teenagers are going to get bored, this is also the perfect tour option. It’s only an hour and a half long, and the company offers plenty of different start times to further facilitate planning.
It’s also one of the more calm tours as it consists nearly entirely of a walking tour – no rappelling down walls, no waterfalls, etc. This tour is no-frills yet if you’re looking to really learn about the cave system in-depth, I feel that there’s no better way to go for the price.
Expand To See More
Our guide was incredible, keeping everything entertaining and engaging, with plenty of great storytelling and information. We learned quite a bit about the history around the caves, like how they were first opened to tourists in the late 1800s by a local Maori Chief, Tane Tinorau.
Used as a burial ground by the Maori, the entrance of the cave is very sacred and features a spiral entrance now to keep it properly protected.
Illuminated beautifully by the Arachnocampa luminosa glowworm pieces only found in New Zealand, it is a super special experience you can literally only have here. If you have a party that tends to get bored easily, please book this tour!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Waitomo Caves tour
