Waitomo Caves Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Photo provided by The Mighty Waikato
This underground labyrinth of spectacular rock formations, with dazzling glowworms and enchanting acoustics, is one of New Zealand’s most popular attractions.

Glide over the ink-black waters and look up to the roof of the Waitomo Caves to see the twinkling glow worms. Take a walk through deep limestone chambers and listen for the eerie echo of the underground waterfalls. Experience the thrill of abseiling down to and tubing through the dark network of caves on a “black-water rafting” tour.

Waitomo Caves have been explored by tourists in New Zealand for over a hundred years. Most visits involve the Ruakuri, the Aranui and the Glowworm Caves, but there are about 300 similar underground limestone formations in the area.

Just behind the visitor centre is the entrance to the Glowworm Cave. A 45-minute tour leads you deep into The Cathedral, so named for its near-perfect acoustic quality. A boat waits for you towards the back of the cave and will carry you into a smaller, darker area, which is lit up by the neon lights of thousands of glowworms.

If you want to visit the other caves, be prepared to walk west for an hour or to arrange other transport at the visitor centre. Aranui cave is dry, and therefore void of glowworms. It has Gothic-like rock formations and a colony of native insects, the cave “weta”. Head to Ruakuri cave to take the two-hour underground tour, which begins at the spectacular spiral staircase and takes you for 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) past gushing waterfalls, vast caverns and further enclaves of glowworms.

Adrenalin junkies can book in for one of the adventure tours on offer. You can abseil down dark tunnels, climb along narrow ledges, ride a raft down the rapids and swim through rivers. Ask the staff in the visitor centre for more details or book ahead on the website. The visitor centre has a café, exhibitions and a short film about the region.

The Waitomo Caves, a one-hour drive south of Hamilton, are open daily. Tours run regularly. If you plan to visit more than one cave, purchase a “Cave Combo” ticket from the visitor centre to receive a discount.

Waitomo Village Chalets Home of Kiwipaka
Waitomo Village Chalets Home of Kiwipaka
3 out of 5
Hotel Access Rd., Waitomo Caves
The price is ₹7,653 per night from 6 Nov to 7 Nov
₹7,653
₹8,849 total
includes taxes & fees
6 Nov - 7 Nov
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Waitomo Caves. Enjoy free parking, breakfast (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Waitomo Glowworm Caves and ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (108 reviews)
"Great location, quiet and lovely facility"

Reviewed on 29 Oct 2024

Waitomo Village Chalets Home of Kiwipaka
Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge
Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge
3 out of 5
7 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves
The price is ₹7,691 per night from 7 Nov to 8 Nov
₹7,691
₹8,869 total
includes taxes & fees
7 Nov - 8 Nov
Stay at this 3-star guesthouse in Waitomo Caves. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (408 reviews)
"Everything was quite lovely and the beds were comfortable we do wish there had been a simple egg offering however and the WiFi was adequate by the way"

Reviewed on 26 Oct 2024

Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge
Woodlyn Park
Woodlyn Park
3.5 out of 5
1177 Waitomo Valley Road, Waitomo Caves, Waikato
The price is ₹11,205 per night from 7 Nov to 8 Nov
₹11,205
₹12,886 total
includes taxes & fees
7 Nov - 8 Nov
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Waitomo Caves. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Woodlyn ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (218 reviews)
"It was a pleasurable stay in the Train Car hotel for our stopover in Waitomo. Very cute and cozy. Had all the amenities we needed. Just recommend keeping the interior doors open at night to keep both the bathroom and kitchen/living room area warm."

Reviewed on 29 Sep 2024

Woodlyn Park
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Woodlyn Park
Woodlyn Park
3.5 out of 5
1177 Waitomo Valley Road, Waitomo Caves, Waikato
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Waitomo Caves. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Woodlyn ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (218 reviews)
"It was a pleasurable stay in the Train Car hotel for our stopover in Waitomo. Very cute and cozy. Had all the amenities we needed. Just recommend keeping the interior doors open at night to keep both the bathroom and kitchen/living room area warm."

Reviewed on 29 Sep 2024

Woodlyn Park
Te Tiro Accommodation
Te Tiro Accommodation
2 out of 5
970 Te Anga Rd, Waitomo Caves, Waikato
Stay at this cottage in Waitomo Caves. Enjoy free parking, a garden and a picnic area. Popular attractions Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Aranui Cave are located ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (22 reviews)
"Up on top of a mountain surrounded by a farm. Incredible views. Angus gave us a warm welcome. 10 minutes from the glow worm caves. We stayed in cabin 1. Rustic. A short walk to a private glow worm grotto."

Reviewed on 4 Oct 2024

Te Tiro Accommodation
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Waitomo Caves

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
4
" "5 - Excellent 44.44444444444444%
4 - Good
5
" "4 - Good 55.55555555555556%
3 - Okay
0
" "3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
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1 - Terrible
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5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

There are plenty of places to see glow worms in NZ but the opportunity of visiting the caves and seeing the glow worms by boat was a wonderful experience.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Great trip to the Glowworm caves. Need to choice the experience you go on carefully

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Well worth doing the glow worm cave tour. Huhu restaurant was very good.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Shame no photos were allowed, even without flash.

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