Waitomo Caves
Ph: 0800 iSiTE WAITOMO (0800 474 839) Ph: +64 7 878 7640 Fax: +64 7 878 6184
PO Box 12 Waitomo Caves New Zealand info@waitomodiscovery.org
WAITOMO CAVES VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
ACTIVITIES
Select one of the activities listed below or scroll down to view all.
One of the best special interest, award winning museums in New Zealand. Come and discover the above and below ground treasures of Waitomo. View our spectacular glowworm multimedia show. Challenge yourself in our cave crawl. A must for all visitors to Waitomo.
Admission charges: Adults $5.00, Children 4yrs-14yrs $3.00, Children under 4 years (accompanied by an adult) free of charge. Groups by prior arrangement.
Altura
Horse Treks, Gardens and Wildlife Park:
Horse treks over New Zealand countryside. 360° views towards Mt Ruapehu and Mt Pirongia. Wild pigs, goats, deer and turkey often seen. Contour is rolling farmland with limestone formations and caves on the property. Horses are Clyde cross and Station bred, known for their quietness and are very sure footed. Suitable for all abilities. Enjoy a relaxing slow ride or a faster one. With free entry to Gardens and Wildlife Park you can bring a picnic and stay all day. All horse trekkers have free admission to Gardens and Wildlife Park. Riders must be 12 years of age or older - female riders must weigh under 90kg, male riders must weigh under 100kg. ½ hour (NZD$50.00) and 1½ hour (NZD$80.00).
The Gardens and Wildlife Park house 85 different sorts of birds and animals in a 20 acre park, with extensive views over farmland. This includes a large landscaped nocturnal owl house. A large 5 acre country garden with a “Gardens of Regional Significance Award” through New Zealand Gardens Trust. Allow 1 -2 hours. Admission Charges: NZD$12.00 for adults and NZD$5.00 for children.
Every visitor will see kiwi on the guided tour of the nocturnal house. View native birds in a natural rainforest habitat. Other aviaries, ponds and marshlands display a wide variety of rare and unusual birds, tuatara and geckos.
Admission charges: NZD$15.00 for adults, NZD$4.00 Children ( 5 - 16 years ), Free under 5 years.
New Zealand's only angora rabbit shearing show. Discover the unique experience of cuddling white German angora rabbits and watch the shearing show which is 12:45 daily. You’ve probably seen a sheep being shorn but rabbit shearing can only be seen at The Shearing Shed!
Admission charges: Free.
LtdThis 3 hour tour visits two caves, in one you will have a 20-30 minute boat ride to view the Glowworms and the other you are walking through looking at different formations and fossils, with a Tea/Coffee break in between. Photography welcome in most parts of the cave.
Cost: Adults $55.00 Children $20.00
Glowworm Cave: In this 45 minute tour your guide will take you through, showing you different formations, visiting the cathedral and then ending with a 5-10 minute boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. No Photography allowed.
Aranui Cave: This 45 minute guided walking tour takes you into the Aranui cave looking at formations such as stalactites, stalacmites and straws in shades of pink, white and pale brown. Photography welcome.
Admission charges:
Glowworm Cave. Adults $35.00, Children $15.00, under 4 free.
Aranui Cave. Adults $32.00 Children $15.00, under 4 free.
Two Cave and Family concessions also available.
A farm show on NZ agriculture from the pioneer days through to the present. Watch jigger chopping, pit sawing and a timber jack in use. View a demonstration of sheep shearing then and now. See a range of farm animals. Show at 1.30pm Daily.
Admission charges: Adults $22.00, Children $12.00, Family $66.00 ( 2 Adults and up to 4 children)
The Mission: This is a full-on, non-stop caving adventure which includes all the most exciting aspects of caving in one action packed adventure. Numerous abseils, rock climbs, squeezes and rope traverses. Authentic caving with the freedom to discover and explore. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Museum of Caves. Allow 4 hours. Cost NZD$125.00
The Expedition: If it is a genuine caving adventure your are after, this is it. A series of traverses, climbs, crawls, abseils and squeezes along wet and dry passages and streambeds past incredible crystal formations. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Museum of Caves. Allow 6 hours. Cost NZD$185.00
The Ultimate Journey - 24 hours: A trip combining tramping, camping, a 90m abseil and two very different caving endeavours. You’ll be given the opportunity to test your endurance throughout, but you’ll also have time to appreciate the environment – from native bush to underground caverns covered in crystal formations and glowworms. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Museum of Caves. Allow 24-26 hours. Cost NZD$380.00.
The Ultimate Adventure: One full day of caving involving two cave systems, four abseils (one of which is 90 metres), a bush walk and lunch. We begin with a Mission trip to wet your appetite and get you used to abseiling. Then it’s back to the base for lunch and a short rest. A further abseil takes you into the Waipuna Cave for more wriggling, scrambling, climbing and wading – not forgetting the crystals and glowworms. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Museum of Caves. Allow 8 - 9 hours. Cost NZD$300.00.
Family Caving Adventure: If you and your kids are full on and outdoorsy, this will be suitable for you all. But be warned, it is demanding and the children (and adults) need to be good walkers and not mind getting muddy or wet. Involves abseiling, walking and caving. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Museum of Caves. Allow 5 hours. Cost NZD$120.00.
Black Magic: A black water rafting trip through a corridor of marvellous glowworms. Water fall jump, water slide and heaps of fun. Duration 2.5 - 3 hours
Cost: $99.00 per person (minimum weight 36kg)
Richie's Canyon: Abseil 150 feet and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this very special place
Cost $120.00 per person (Daylight hours)
Cost: $160.00 per person.(Night Glow)
Skinny Joe's Hole: Adventure Caving for the whole family.
Cost: $99.00 per adult, $50.00 per child.
A unique self-guided, 2-day walk (27 km) venturing on trails that lead through lush native bush, unique limestone formations, caves, forestry and farmland. Situated halfway on the walk on the top of Dundle Hill, is the Kay's Cabin. This new 38 bunk cabin provides an ideal place for visitors to enjoy the magnificent views of the Waitomo valley.
Adults - $60.00 per person, children (15 years and under) - $20.00 per person.
Legendary
Black Water Rafting:
Black Labyrinth: The original rafting trip through the Ruakuri Cave system. This trip involves black water rafting, caving, Glowworms, waterfall jumps and squeezes. Duration 3 hours.
Cost: $95.00 per person.
Black Abyss: A combination of abseiling, caving, a flying fox, black water rafting and waterfall climbs. Float under a galaxy of glowworms. Duration 5 hours.
Cost: $185.00 per person.
:
In this 2 hour guided walking tour you will hear all about the spiritual and maori history of the cave. You will see formations such as shawls, curtains and stalactites, before getting an up close look at the Glowworms. Photography welcome in most parts of the cave.
Cost: Adults $49.00 Children $16.00 Duration 2 hours
This 3 hour tour visits two caves, in one you will have a 20-30 minute boat ride to view the Glowworms and the other you are walking through looking at different formations and fossils, with a Tea/Coffee break in between. Photography welcome in most parts of the cave.
Cost: Adults $55.00 Children $20.00
Haggas Honking Holes: Full on action. Do three abseils down waterfalls, rock climbing, caving and squeezing. Duration 4 hours.
Cost $195.00 per person
Lost World
Tandem Abseil: Start with a 100 metre
abseil into the magnificent sheer chasm that is
the Lost world. You are then exploring through the cave, visiting some
Glowworms before having a ladder climb out of the cave. Duration 4 hours.
Cost: $245.00 per person
Lost World Epic: Tandem abseil into the Lost World then take the wet way out. Walk, swim, explore and climb through massive vaults before climbing out into the open. Duration 7-8 hours.
Cost $395.00 per person
St Benedicts
Cavern: Abseil down into the cave before taking a flying fox through
one of the passages. You then do some dry caving until you reach the cavern
filled with stalactites and other formations. Duration 3.5 hours.
Cost $146.00 per person
Tumu Tumu
T00bing: This caving trip involves black water rafting, glowworms and
caving. Duration 4 hours.
Cost $125.00 per person
Glowworm Cave:
In this 45 minute tour your guide will take you through, showing you
different formations, visiting the cathedral and then ending with a 5-10
minute boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. No Photography allowed.
Aranui Cave: This 45 minute guided walking tour takes you into the Aranui cave looking at formations such as stalactites, stalacmites and straws in shades of pink, white and pale brown. Photography welcome.
Admission charges
Glowworm Cave: Adults $35.00, Children $15.00, under 4 free.
Aranui Cave: Adults $32.00, Children $14.00.
Family Rate for Glowworm Cave or Aranui (2 adults and 2 children): $90.00, additional Children $10.00.
Two cave concession also available
Enjoy NZ's rugged countryside with Waitomo Big Red. Wind your way through bush, navigate rutted tracks, in and out of valleys with steep descents. A feast of spectacular native bush, limestone landscape, mountain views and acres of beautiful scenery. Bring your camera.
Cost: $105.00 each driver
Rap, Raft 'N' Rock: This trip starts with a 27 metre abseil down into the cave, you then have caving, black water rafting, optional squeezes, glowworms and then a rock climb out of the cave at the end. Duration 5 hours.
Cost: $125.00 per person.
email us at: info@waitomodiscovery.orgo.nz 07/04/2008