Glowworm Caves

Be amazed by the thousands of magical glowworms above on this 45-minute, small group guided tour, as you glide silently by boat in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Many of the current guides are descendants of the Maori chief who originally explored the cave and can share with you the remarkable history of the area. Guided since the late 1880s, this is the original, iconic New Zealand attraction.

The fascinating Te Anau caves system on the western shore of Lake Te Anau offers an underground adventure that charms visitors of all ages. This tour takes you to a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glowworms. Please be sure to arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in.

The top rated, most intimate, and most personalised glow worm cave tour in Waitomo. Our awesome Waitomo adventure is tucked away “off the beaten track” on our family farm and we LOVE it that way and so do our guests. Our “Glowing” Highlights • Amazing glow worm displays! • Just the right amount of adventure • Away from the crowds • Small group sizes • Cameras welcome • Authentic eco experience • Family owned and operated • Photos, tea, coffee and biscuits included • #1 Trip Advisor rated tour in the Waitomo District

Visit the enchanting Waitomo Glowworm Caves for a guided 45-minute tour through this underground wonder, seeing stalactites, stalagmites, and sparkling glowworms. Then head to a hidden gem near the township of Matamata, the Hobbiton Movie Set which is a world-famous film location for the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. See the Hobbit Holes and learn how this private farm became Middle Earth. You will also be able to venture beyond the door into an authentic Hobbit Hole on Bagshot row. At the end of this tour you will be able to enjoy a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.

We offer two different Blackwater Rafting experiences through the Ruakuri Cave. The Black Labyrinth is the original, 3-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. You will jump off two small waterfalls (highest is 1.5 meters), float on a tube underneath an impressive display of glowworms and navigate through the cave’s natural streamway. All participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 45kgs. The Black Abyss is the ultimate 5-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. Abseil 35 metres into the cave and zipline across a river under a grotto of glowworms. You'll then float on a tube through the caves' natural streamway. All participants must be at least 16 years old and weigh 45kgs. An average level of fitness and mobility is required for both of our tours. It is important to understand that these tours take you into a completely natural cave environment. Please understand that your guides have final discretion of whether you will be able to participate on our tours.

Discover New Zealand’s wonders with our Spellbound Glowworm Cave and Explorer Tour. Perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers, this tour offers a blend of bioluminescence and natural beauty that will captivate you. Begin your adventure with our expert guide leading you through mesmerizing caves. Learn about fascinating geological formations and history as you marvel at stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Step into the enchanting Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of glowworms illuminate the cave with their magical light. Enjoy a serene 20-minute boat ride, gazing up at lights resembling a starry night sky. Gain insights into the glowworms' life cycle and ecological significance from your knowledgeable guide. This unique tour is ideal for those wanting an up-close experience with the glowworms and photography enthusiasts, as there are no restrictions on photos in the caves. Experience all this as part of a small, intimate group of only 11 guests.

Ruakuri Cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo's most compelling subterranean experiences. Journey down through the spectacular spiral entrance, and marvel at the softly folding shawl-like limestone formations and crystal tapestries. Hear the distant thunder of the subterranean waterfalls and get up close to the glowworms. Spectacular and unique, Ruakuri Cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo's most compelling subterranean experiences. In this 2 hours sightseeing tour, your guide will bring you up close to glowworms, elaborate cave formations, underground rivers, myths, legends and sacred Maori sites.

Experience the world-famous Lord of The Rings Hobbiton Movie Set plus the Waitomo Glowworm Caves all in one day. This unforgettable combo tour takes you to the top tourist attractions in the North Island. Highlights: • Hobbiton Movie Set • Alexander Family Sheep Farm • Waitomo Glowworm Caves • Waikato Farming Region Due to the delicate ecosystem within the Waitomo Caves, photography is not permitted inside. This policy helps protect the glowworms, ensuring the preservation of this unique environment. While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. This tour is less rushed, making it the ultimate Auckland day tour, and is led by our passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses ensuring your comfort and safety.

Spend a memorable evening on a kayak tour of Lake Rotoiti with an expert guide. Visit natural hot springs and glowworm caves, and enjoy plenty of time for a relaxing soak, swim, and barbecue dinner. After your meal, paddle into lakeside caves to see glowworms and sometimes Koura – (freshwater crayfish), and take in the sunset as you wrap up your kayak tour.

Choose FlexiToursNZ for a premium tour. We put less seats in our vehicles than factory standard and only 3 seats in the back row. Pay a little more to be comfortable. This tour involves a lot of driving and is more enjoyable if you are comfortable and not crushed up against other people on the vehicle. We keep the groups small with no more than 12 people on our vehicle, meaning our drivers can and will give you, personal service. Check out our reviews to see what customers say about us, our vehicles and our team of experienced and enthusiastic drivers. All meals provided on the tour are prepared in a professional kitchen and are normally served in a restaurant or café. Very occasionally Meals may be served picnic style Due to low numbers and sustained losses caused by Covid 19, until further notice we will need a minimum of 4 people (or price equivalent) to run tours.

See Glowworms right up close in this magical cave. Journey down through the spectacular spiral entrance, marvel at the limestone formations and crystal tapestries in this uniquely sustainable experience

Join us on a small group day tour from Auckland to visit one of New Zealand's most iconic and famous attractions, the amazing Waitomo Caves, where you'll be in awe of the cave formations and the thousands of Glowworms sparkling above you. The subterranean cave system is most unforgettable sightseeing experience as you walk through majestic caverns, exploring limestone shafts, marvelling at the stalactites and stalagmites and ride a boat beneath thousands of tiny glow-worms that inhabit the cave and put on a mesmerising light display likened to the twinkling night sky. This Waitomo Caves tour provides an immersive experience into the heart of New Zealand's underground treasures, allowing you to witness the magic of the glowworms and the breathtaking geological formations that make these caves unique.

During this tour you will experience an encounter with mighty prehistoric giants that only a couple of centuries ago dominated the vast forests of the North Island of New Zealand. You will see amazing Kauri – our bewitching giants… … and tiny and defenseless glow warms which bring to the darkness of the underground caves a mysterious bluish glow of an endless starry sky…

This Private Tour is offered to those that have time constraint and want to visit one of New Zealand’s unique natural wonder Waitomo Glowworms Cave with its thousands of starry Glowworms.

Embark on a full-day adventure tour on our private luxury vehicle from Auckland to see New Zealand's two most famous attractions in one day. Grab a great value Hobbiton Movie Set tour, the award-winning attraction made famous by the popular Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies where you'll see the intricately created 'Hobbit and float down a boat cruise on an underground river lit by twinkling glowworms including a sumptuous BBQ buffet lunch.

[[[[[[[[[[IMPORTANT!!!!!!]]]]]]]]]]PLEASE NOTE THAT EACH HOTEL HAS A SEPARATE PICKUP TIME BETWEEN 7:00AM – 7:35AM Our small group tours, chauffeured in a luxurious 18-seater Mercedes coach, blend comfort and relaxation. Multi-lingual audio guide (for English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean), bespoke meals, and hassle-free booking, we aim to deepen your connection with New Zealand’s enchanting landscapes. Waitomo Ruakuri Cave offers a more in-depth encounter with a knowledgeable guide and ample time and space to marvel at the glowworms up close. Experience the magnificent Ruakuri Cave, where nature, spirituality, and history beautifully intersect with a stunning display of engineering prowess. The Hobbiton Movie Set tour begins with a walk through the picturesque 1,250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the 10 acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton Movie Set was created.

Embark on a mesmerizing evening adventure kayaking across Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand's gem. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery and the symphony of birdlife as you paddle towards the mythical Glowworm cave, a spectacle of bioluminescence. After a sumptuous BBQ dinner at the secluded Manupirua Hot Pools, accessible only by water, surrender to pure relaxation as you soak in the therapeutic warmth of the natural geothermal springs. As the moon and stars twinkle above, witness the lake's magical transformation. This enchanting experience is a perfect harmony of nature's wonders, leaving you with cherished memories of tranquility and awe.

This private tour has been designed for couples that require privacy and flexibility. You can make stops for photo shoots or spend extra time on locations. Travel in luxury with chauffeurs with 25 years of experience in Tours & Transfers!

On this small group, fully guided One Way trip visit the stunning Waitomo Glowworm Caves and other stops and secret locations on the way from Auckland to Rotorua. Highlights: • Waitomo Glowworm Caves • Rotorua City Highlights • Wildlife viewing Led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in a modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety. While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles, complementary refreshments and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.

This tour is ideal for couples , families ,and friends, small groups for private tour. Not with other group or people. Explore look at this magical places with your own private guide. Don't miss the world famous Hobbiton Movie Set and Glowworm Cave Tour. Visit two of the beautiful places in North island highlights on private day tour from Auckland. Leaving the Auckland early morning, We’ll go to the fatastic Hobbiton Movie set in Matamata about 2 hours and explore around there. And then move to Waitomo cave for experiencing in the incredible glowworm caves. Make the most of a short stay on a day tour. Get around in a comfortable private vehicle. We can flex the schedule base on your needs. Please contact us. Minimum required for this tour : 2 people