Explore the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a guided tour. Glide by boat and marvel at the sight of magical glowworms above you.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 1 hour: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

Marvel at the thousands of glowworms as you glide through the caves by boat
Learn the history and geology of the caves from a knowledgeable guide
Walk through the Cathedral Cave and experience the amazing acoustics

Full description

Embark on a unique subterranean adventure on this guided tour of the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The caves were formed over 30 million years ago and comprise 2 levels. The upper level is dry and includes the entrance to the cave and formations known as the Catacombs, the Pipe Organ, and the Banquet Chamber. On the lower level are stream passages and the Cathedral. Begin on foot as your local guide brings the caves to life with stories about their history. Then, board a boat and marvel at the light display as you glide silently through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto.

Includes

Admission ticket
45-minute guided tour
Local guide

Souvenir photos

Not suitable for

Wheelchair users

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned

Traveler requirements

All participants who are over 12 years old must present proof of full vaccination
In addition to proof of vaccination, all participants who are over 18 years old must present a government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, passport, etc)
All participants who are over 12 years and 3 months old must present proof of full vaccination

Meeting point

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Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes
Warm clothing

Not allowed

Cameras

Know before you go

No photography is permitted inside the caves, and cameras and GoPros cannot be taken on the tour
Souvenir photos are available for purchase after your tour
All tours are subject to availability. Pending available time slots, your tour time may be 15-30 minutes before or after the one you have requested
Bring comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket
The caves are accessible to those with reasonable mobility, as there are good handrails and paths. There is no wheelchair access

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 705 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.7/5
Transportation
4.2/5
Value for money
4.2/5
Safety
4.7/5

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Unique experience for myself.. husband been in caves before.. neither of us been on the little boat ride. A great activity if you have money to throw around.. the 45 minute tour including boat ride was a lot of talk while going through caves.. enjoyable.. with a tiny boat ride at the end.

January 4, 2022

The facility is great and includes art work and a cafe. Ticketing people were happy to oblige with our request. We were lucky to be able to use the outside jetty after the recent rain. It was great to see the care taken to keep this place going. Kia Ora to the kaitiaki.

July 27, 2021

Highly recommend doing this, we (adults and children) found it to be an incredibly fascinating & magical experience. The boat ride at the end creates a sense of calm and relaxation as you observe the glow worms above you whilst silently gliding along in the boat. Our guide, Moi, was informative, kind and considerate. We loved the whanau connection he had to the caves

October 2, 2020

Waitomo: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat

Waitomo: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat

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