Auckland: Rotorua Māori Village, Waitomo Caves & Lunch
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
Begin your tour with a scenic bus ride from Auckland to Rotorua, arriving at Whakarewarewa Village. Step into this living Māori village and be greeted by the warmth of the local community and the rich aroma of geothermal steam.
Guided by locals, explore Whakarewarewa, discovering the traditions, customs, and lifestyle of the Māori people. Marvel at bubbling mud pools, spouting geysers, and steaming vents. Immerse yourself in live performances of traditional Māori songs and dances, including a powerful haka performance, and enjoy a delightful picnic lunch amidst the stunning surroundings.
After Whakarewarewa Village, journey to the Waitomo Caves. Marvel at glow worms illuminating the caves and glide silently through on a boat, surrounded by thousands of bioluminescent creatures.
After this adventure, board the bus for your return journey to Auckland.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Auckland Central
Embark on your expedition from the largest city in New Zealand. As we set out, your guide will kick off the day's adventures, laying the groundwork for an enthralling exploration. Travel journey time from Auckland to Rotorua Maori Village approximately- 3.5 hours
Rotorua
As you arrive in Rotorua, start off with a scenic drive around the city visiting Lake Rotorua, taking in the beautiful views & the historic Government Gardens before making your way to the Whakarewarewa Village.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Admission to Fully Guided Tour of the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
Admission to a fully guided experience of the Whakarewarewa Maori Village
Snacks
All Fees and Taxes
Complimentary pick up and drop off from Auckland CBD
Air-conditioned vehicle
Picnic style lunch
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Maori Village & Waitomo Caves
Pickup included
Reviews
18 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An Exceptional Experience in Waitomo Caves and a Māori Village
roselovereurope,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a wonderful journey with our tour guide, Doug. First of all, the tour itself was amazing. I saw many beautiful blue and green glowworms in the Waitomo Caves, and then had an incredible cultural experience at the Māori village. I spent around two hours in the Māori village listening to their beautiful singing and dancing, and learning about their culture as a Māori guide showed us around the village. It was a long tour, but Doug was very patient, both in sharing his knowledge and in driving. I sincerely felt that Doug did his best to make sure we had a memorable experience on this journey. I would give both the tour and the tour guide a 10 out of 10.
AMAZING TOUR
antonind2026,,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing expérience with Duck, very good guide !! A recommended this tour so muchhh to discober the cave or the village with the HAKA
Glow worm caves and Rotarua
G599JCjaimeg,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Jaime was very kind helpful and informative. The caves and village were amazing! Wonderful experience, would recommend!
Excellent time, despite the rain!
V2897KFtraceys,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a very short two days in Auckland and I wanted to make sure and have a Māori experience while in NZ and it was a bonus to see the glowing worm caves on the same tour! It is a long day but worth it! Wayne our driver/guide was great! Very personable and funny and even made a couple unexpected bonus stops /photo ops for our group. There was a downpour at the Māori village but Wayne had umbrellas for us to use! Nice touch! FYI, there are a lot of stairs at Waitomo caves, this may be an issue for some folks. I would definitely recommend this tour to Rotorua!
Excellent! One day to visit two major tours of North Island, the flow of time is smooth. By car, you can enjoy the scenery and the adjustment of the sleeping hours, the body will not be tired, and guided private attractions are recommended, you can explore Auckland on your own after the end of the trip, the perfect day!
CindyW2682,,Nov 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent! The excursions include breakfast tea (on-charge), Maori Village tour, battle dance performances, car breakfast box (on-charge), cave adventures and blueberries, boat and souvenir purchases, and guided tour recommendations!
Bonus stops!
349myrnan,,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyed visiting both sites. Aaron our driver and guide for the day is very knowledgeable about New Zealand and pointed out various places of interest along the way. I liked the 10 minute stops along the way! Added places for quick photo ops. He even brought water and a snack which was nice to have on the way back to the hotel. New Zealand is a beautiful country!
A great cultural experience
Andy P,,Apr 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Rotorua Māori Village tour was much better than I expected. The day started with John picking us up at the hotel right on time. There were only two other people on the tour (4 total) so it was quite comfortable. John provided engaging conversation and made a few stops along the way there and back to make pit stops, see extra things and get some food. Our tour guide at the village was an older gentleman called Chief and he was absolutely perfect for the tour, a real wealth of cultural knowledge and experience who was willing to share it all in an engaging and funny way. They cook food in the hot spring and the chicken in the cafe was among the best I've ever had. After the tour we were able to walk around the village a bit to explore the different little shops there which had unique Māori items for sale (some of the best gift shops from our whole trip to NZ). The Waitomo Caves were a little less than I expected as it was a fairly short event. After a short walk through some nice, comfortable caves, you enter a boat for a short trip through the rest of the cave by water. You are not allowed to take photos in the first cave as it was once used as a burial ground, but you can take them from the boat towards the end. It is very dark and difficult to get a good shot, but I was able to get a few decent photos and videos using my iPhone. Overall a very nice day and a good way to learn about the interesting Māori culture.
Waitomo Cave and Moore Village Tour
31rameshr,,Mar 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a very good tour provided by Expedigo via GetYourGuide. They use newer and comfortable vehicles. The group size is really small (6 max). Our tour guide/driver, John is very friendly and shared his information throughout the journey. Highly recommend this Waitomo caves and the Māori village tour!!
Excellent day trip!
kvenugop,,Mar 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent day trip and well guided and driven by John. Had a good opportunity to experience Māori culture and the glow work caves. John had a lot of energy providing a lot of commentary during the drive. Recommend this trip!
Guide Paul. He spent all his trip (12 hours) talking privately to a Dutch woman with a hyena laugh) headache
Esteban C,,Feb 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00BORING TRIP; listening all the way (12 hours) to the guide talk privately to a Dutch woman who was not being listened to by her husband
From NZ$415.00
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Operated by Expedigo Tours and Travels Auckland