Guided tour

Waitomo: Glowworm Cave 3-Hour Guided Eco-Tour

Guided tour

Waitomo: Glowworm Cave 3-Hour Guided Eco-Tour

Likely to sell out

From US$ 98.63 per person

Likely to sell out

Explore Waitomo's amazing glowworms and natural wonders away from the crowds. Wander through a native New Zealand forest in a small group with an expert guide.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Small group
Limited to 8 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • • Explore the cave system in a small group tour on a family farm
  • • Wander through stunning native New Zealand forest
  • • Wade through freshwater streams and climb over boulders
  • • Enjoy a real caving experience with no footpaths or lights
  • • Marvel at beautiful glowworm displays throughout your eco-tour
Full description
Get off the beaten track on this intimate 3-hour tour through some of New Zealand's natural wonders. Start with a brief walk through native bush and the scenic Mangapu gorge.  Hike through beautiful native New Zealand forest, wade through freshwater streams, climb over boulders, and explore untouched limestone caves and spectacular rock formations. Enjoy the mesmerizing glowworm displays in privately owned caves that remain unspoiled by paths or electric lights.  Finish up your tour with a shower, a hot cup of coffee or tea, and some light refreshments. 
Includes
  • 3-hour cave tour
  • Small group (maximum of 8 participants)
  • Experienced local guide
  • All equipment
  • Shower facilities
  • Hot drinks and a snack
  • Transportation
Not suitable for
  • Children under 12 years
  • People with back problems
  • People with mobility impairments
  • People with heart problems
  • People over 264 lbs (120 kg)

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

1199 Oparure Road, Te Kuiti, Waitomo

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Important information

Not allowed

  • Professional cameras

Know before you go

  • Maximum group size is eight and the minimum group size is two
  • Children under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
  • Maximum weight for tour participants is 120 kilograms (265 pounds)
  • Allow 3 hours for the tour, of which approximately 2 hours is spent in the cave system
  • A moderate level of fitness is required
  • There is no public transport access, you will need to provide your own transportation to the meeting point
  • Cameras are welcome, as long as they are not too large. A small digital camera is best, or your mobile phone. The guides will also take photographs during the tour and digital copies are provided to you at no charge.
Customer reviews

Overall rating

5 /5

based on 76 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    5/5
  • Value for money
    4.8/5
  • Service
    5/5
  • Organization
    5/5

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Star rating:

We had a great time with Ash. He showed us with very nice humour the secrets of the caves… With beautiful costumes (everything provided from “Down to earth”) we went on our tour. After the tour sitting together with tea, coffee and cookies and talking about all our adventures was so nice. It was really amazing and is absolutely recommended…

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March 25, 2023

Our tour guide was Ash, and he took very special care to make sure everyone was comfortable while we were in and around the cave. What an amazing experience to climb through the cave and experience the glow worms both up close and at a distance. As my husband said, "This tour really made our whole vacation to New Zealand; I can't wait to come back and visit again!"

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March 25, 2023

Absolutely one of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand!! We really didn't have a good idea of what we signed up for (we made a coin-flip decision based on all the positive reviews), and it was an absolute blast that totally exceeded our expectations. Short nature walk + unique adventure through the caves. You'll be climbing over and under rocks and through rivers, so you'll need a low level of fitness to feel confident; that said, there were folks on our trip who were not super strong or confident and they had a great time regardless! The glow worms are stunning and beautiful, felt like we'd really earned it towards the end of the cave exploration. Ashley is a phenomenal guide, he knew how to pace things and keep folks safe, and he made this adventure fun, funny, personal, and informative. A++ experience, if you're in between this and the classic boat tours, would highly recommend you give this unique experience a go.

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March 25, 2023

Product ID: 141396