Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Your safety is our team's top priority.
You must check in 30 minutes before the tour departs at 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves
All Participants for the Black Abyss must be at least 16-years-old and weigh at least 45kgs.
All Participants for the Black Labyrinth must be at least 12-years-old and weigh at least 45kgs.
Due to high demand and limited capacity if you miss your scheduled tour time your ticket(s) are forfeited and non refundable. New bookings will incur the full tour cost and are subject to availability.
Water temperature sits at around 10-15 degrees Celsius.
We require a minimum of two participants for a tour to operate - if you are the only participant confirmed, you may be asked to amend your tour time
The Black Labyrinth (3-hour tour) does NOT include the abseil and zipline.
Customers do not need to be able to swim, but these tours are best suited for those who are comfortable with at least standing in fast-moving water.
Cameras and personal devices are not allowed on these tours
Bring swimwear & a towel - we'll supply the rest!
We ask those who have serious medical problems to contact us before booking onto our tours.
Please understand that your guides have final discretion of whether you will be able to participate on our tours.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.
The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., is the check-in point for both of our Blackwater Rafting tours. From here, your guides will take you to go get geared up for your tour. Free lockers are available for your belongings.
Ruakuri Cave
Both of our Blackwater Rafting Tours take you through our glowworm-studded Ruakuri Cave. For those on the Black Labyrinth tour, you can expect to spend up to an hour and a half inside of the cave system. On the Black Abyss tour, participants will spend up to three hours inside the cave.
What‘s Included
Complimentary hot shower
The use of equipment such as tubes, wetsuits, boots, helmets, abseiling devices (if option chosen) and safety equipment
Snacks
Abseiling techniques training (Black Abyss only)
Entry to Waitomo Cave Museum
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop off
Towels and Toiletries for Showers
Options
The Black Labyrinth 25/26 & 26
Black Labyrinth (2025/2026): Three-hour adventure caving tour. Prices are valid for tours between 01/10/25 and 30/09/26
The Black Abyss 25/26 & 26/27
Black Abyss (2025/2026): Five hour adventure caving tour. Includes abseiling and a zip-line. Prices are valid for tours between 01/10/25 and 30/09/26
Reviews
424 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An extraordinary activity that worth to taste
NorthStar68694324362,May 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our group/tour leaders Jeffery & Kiwi were such a wonderful person- professional, thoughtful, kindness, full of sense of humour …. 👍👍👏🏻👏🏻 It was a good experience. I would strongly recommend to people around me to join this activity
Fantastic experience! Fun guides, amazing glowworms.
Camper15550365298,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My partner and I recently did the Black Labyrinth experience with Tim and Luke as our guides. We were both a little nervous as we aren't really water people and hadn't done a lot of caving. They made us feel right at home, and were very fun and engaging. The length of the tour was stated to be about 3 hours, which was fairly accurate. We were advised to be there 30 minutes before the start, which was unneeded as the tour includes all the preparation (wetsuits etc.). The preparation covered everything, including a safety fall, which was half safety and half an opportunity to get an embarrassing photo of everyone. The experience was amazing. There's plenty of places in New Zealand that sell you on 'glowworms' but this experience really had glowworms. Thousands of them, it was really interesting and engaging. We had a group of 7. One of the guides said they can have up to 12 people, which I feel could slow the experience and detract from it, but I thought 7 was about perfect, as the tour moved at a good pace. The water was cold (duh) but nobody seemed to be struggling too much. My partner isn't a swimmer, but she felt at ease the entire time. It felt like an 'adventure' without being risky. We got hot soup after the tour. It was nice for me, as I can't have dairy, but they had a dairy free option, which I really appreciated. They had some cool souvenirs, and I got a tie dye hoodie, which looks terrible/amazing and I will wear it everywhere. It was a great day, and it will be one of the highlights of our NZ holiday. P.S. if anyone from the team reads this, give Luke a pay rise. He commiserated with me about my bad football team.
Black Abyss: 10/10 Adventure
chejanamareec,May 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My partner and I did the Black Abyss Waitomo tour over the weekend and what an absolutely incredible experience it was. Tim and Ollie were outstanding guides — knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely supportive the whole way through. I mentioned early on that heights make me a bit nervy, and they were brilliant: patient when I needed it, but also encouraging enough to help me push past it and enjoy every moment. The tour itself far exceeded our expectations. Having only eight people in the group made it feel personal and unrushed (apart from the shock of that chilly water). The balance of adventure, challenge, and learning was perfect, and the guides shared their cave knowledge in a way that was both informative and entertaining. Highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an unforgettable Waitomo experience. It’s an absolute must‑do.
Good experience if you...
bazzfisher451,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Good experience if you can tolerate the cold. It helps if the group you go with aren't a bunch of noisy young guys.
Excellent tour well worth it
darrel g,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour . Definitely worth it. Guides extremely knowledgeable and fascinating to understand about the caves and glow worms . The duration was just enough
So much fun 🤩
Jet64433849433,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Definitely recommend!! Our tour guides were great, very enthusiastic about their job and made the experience so worth it. We had so much fun and would definitely come back again.
Septic Arthritis
Jmllr50,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00The journey through the cave was exciting but 2 days later I contracted sepsis and nearly died. It was believed to have entered my hand after scraping it in the cave. I’m not sure what can be done about this but wonder if anyone has experienced this situation.
Wonderful cave and Tubing experience ‐ Highly recommend
Jared J,Apr 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It wasn't clear to me before this experience that there are several caves in the area. All the tours are not the same and do have equal value. If you want a more intimate, immersive experience then this is a great option. It was better than what I imagined. The glow worms are quite magically and unique but the trek through the cave while seeing the worms takes the experience to another level. Highly recommend. The tour guides were fantastic, they were helpful, funny and knowledgeable. Thank you for the great experience.
Bucket list experience
Jane G,Apr 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The Black Abyss was an awesome adventure with excellent friendly guides, who were knowledgeable, considerate and fun. Abseiling, zip lining, tubing under amazing glow worms and climbing waterfalls made the tour a bucket list experience. The whole process was well run and very professional, we felt well cared for and very safe.
"An Epic Underground Adventure Beneath the Glowworms"
Rodendo O,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely unforgettable experience! The black abyss tour at Waitomo caves was hands-down one of the most incredible adventures me and my wife has done. From the moment we arrived, our guides Oscar and Stacy were friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel completely safe and excited for what was ahead. The cave was such a thrill, and floating through the underground river surrounded by thousands of glowing glowworms felt like something out of another world. Everything was so well-organized, and the guides really went above and beyond to make the experience fun, memorable, and comfortable for everyone in the group. You can tell they genuinely love what they do. If you're looking for a unique, adrenaline-filed adventure with stunning natural beauty, this is an absolute must-do. Worth every second - 5 stars all the way!!
From NZ$193.00
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Operated by THL - Waitomo Caves Group