Suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, these cave tours are generally a dry and gentle way to explore a cave.
Tours range from a 200 metre walk of approximately 55 minutes, a walk of 1.6 kilometres over 90 minutes or a tour of 3 hours (including travel time). Your guide will be able to tell you about the history of the cave, as well as showing you speleotherms (stalactites and stalagmites), fossils and cave creatures.
Water drips into the caves making pathways and staircases wet, and the temperature is about 12˚ – 14˚Celsius all year round, so you will need comfortable walking shoes and a light jacket or jersey for these tours.
Discover Waitomo
Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tour
- This cave tour has been operating for over 126 years.
- Allow 1 hour.
- Enjoy walking through big open caverns of cave formations.
- The tour includes a 5-10 minute boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto.
Child: (4-14 years): $25
Infant (0-3 years): free
Family pass: (2 adults + 2 children): $140
Extra child on a family pass: $20
Standard trip times: Every half an hour from 9:30am – 4pm (these times may vary by season. Contact us for further details.)
You will need comfortable shoes and a warm jacket.
Photography is not permitted.
The age range for children’s tickets is 4-14 years old, inclusive. Entry for children under 4 years old is free, but they still need to have a ticket for entry.
Special combination prices are available for any two or all three of Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave (see further down this page.)
Aranui Cave Tour
- Allow 1 hour
- Spectacular limestone formations
- Fine and delicate stalactites and stalagmites
- You may be able to see cave weta
Child (4-14 years): $25
Infant: (0-3 years) Free
Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children): $140
Extra child on a family pass: $20 Standard trip times: 11:30am, 1pm (times may vary and additional tours maybe available in busy periods) – tickets must be booked and are subject to availability
You will need comfortable shoes and a warm jacket.
Photography is permitted.
Special combination prices are available for two or all of the following cave tours: Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Aranui Cave and Ruakuri Cave (see further down this page.)
Ruakuri Cave Tour
- Allow 1 hour & 45 minutes.
- Walk down a man-made spiral entrance way.
- 1.6 km walk through the cave.
- History of the cave
- See glowworms close up.
- Wheelchair accessible (60 cm maximum width). A wheelchair can be organised for you by prior arrangement.
Infant: (0-3 years) Free
Family Pass (2ad + 2ch): $190
Extra child with a family pass: $20 Standard trip times: 10am, 11am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm (additional tours maybe available in busy periods). Tickets must be booked and are subject to availability.
You will need: Comfortable shoes and a light jacket or jersey.
Photography is permitted but some restrictions apply.
Admission to the Waitomo Caves Museum is free, when you buy any combination of 2 or 3 of Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Ruakuri Cave & Aranui Cave with the Waitomo Caves i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
Special combo price available for two or all of the following cave tours: Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Aranui Cave & Ruakuri Cave (see further down page)
Glowworm Cave + Aranui Cave Combo
Infant (0-3 years): free
Family Pass (2ad + 2ch): $180 (save $100) Extra child with Family Pass: $30
ONLY AVAILABLE IF BOOKED WITH THE WAITOMO CAVES i-SITE Visitor Information Centre – free admission into the Waitomo Caves Museum.
Glowworm Cave + Ruakuri Cave Combo
Infant (0-3 years): free
Family Pass (2ad + 2ch): $210 (save $120)
Extra child with family pass: $30
ONLY AVAILABLE IF BOOKED WITH Waitomo i-SITE. Free admission into the Waitomo Museum
3 Cave Combo
Infant (0-3 years): Free
Family Pass (2ad + 2ch): $290 (save $180)
Extra child with Family Pass: $46
ONLY AVAILABLE IF BOOKED WITH the Waitomo i-SITE Visitor Infomration Centre – free admission into the Waitomo Museum
Cave World
Footwhistle Glowworm Cave Tour
- Allow 1.25 – 1.5 hours including travelling time
- Glowworms
- Candlelit entrance
- Variety of formations
- Display of one or more traditional lighting methods
- Small and personalised tour
- Cave exploring
- Kawakawa tea tasting
Day Tour:
Adult: $64Child (must be 5-17yrs): $39 Infant: Not recommended
Maximum Group Size: 11
Standard Trip Times: 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm (more may be added in busy season)
You will need: Walking shoes and warm jacket (adverse weather), your camera
Photography permitted: Yes
Book this cave and receive admission into Waitomo Museum for $2.50 per adult (children 14 and under are free).
Night Tour (more glowworms):
Adult: $69Child: (must be 5-17yrs):$49Infant: Not recommended
Maximum Group Size: 11
Standard Trip Times: Vary – call us!
You will need: Walking shoes and warm jacket (adverse weather)
Photography permitted: Yes
Book this cave and receive admission into Waitomo Museum for $2.50 per adult (children 14 and under are free).
Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tour
- Allow 3 hours 15 minutes
- Two caves in one tour (Mangawhitikau Cave and Te Ana o Te Atua Cave)
- Variety of formations and fossils
- Small and personalised tour
- Close up view of Glowworms
- Tea and Coffee break between two caves
- 20+ minute boat ride through Glowworms
- Cave of choice for the BBC / Sir David Attenborough ‘Planet Earth & Life In The Undergrowth’ documentaries
Adult: $75
Child: (0-14yrs): $26
Maximum Group Size: 12
Standard Trip Times: 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm – must be booked and subject to availability
You will need comfortable shoes, a warm jacket and your camera.
Photography is permitted but some restrictions apply.
Book this cave and receive half price admission into the Waitomo Caves Museum.