Okohua Glowworm Cave Adventure
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore Waitomo’s hidden glowworm cave on a private, premium adventure with The Waitomo Experience. As the exclusive operator of the breathtaking Okohua Glowworm Cave, we offer an intimate small group journey designed for those seeking a more private underground experience.
Float on tubes beneath thousands of glowworms, swim through clear underground passages, climb over ancient limestone formations, and wade through crystal pools to hidden waterfalls. A good baseline of fitness and confidence in water is required as our expert guides lead you through this adventurous journey, providing top of the line caving equipment and sharing their deep local knowledge along the way.
After emerging, enjoy a peaceful bush walk back to base before relaxing in a cedar hot tub overlooking native forest and rolling farmland. With a maximum of just six guests per tour, this eco-friendly experience delivers an intimate, adventurous, and unforgettable journey beneath Waitomo’s magical surface.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
We cannot take any travelers under 45kg
Minimum age is 12 years old
We recommend that you feel comfortable in water
We cannot take anyone over 120kg
Children aged 12-16 must be supervised by an adult aged 18 or older
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Embark on an adventure through the Okohua Glowworm Cave. Tube, walk, float, swim and climb through glowworm-lit passages in a serene, magical world beneath the surface. Set on the idyllic Tumu Tumu Station. Operated solely by our team, we hold exclusive rights to explore the stunning Okohua Glowworm Cave, making this a once in a lifetime opportunity you won’t find anywhere else. Just 10 minutes from Waitomo village, meet your expert guides and gear up for a premium caving experience. A short walk through picturesque farmland leads to a hidden cave entrance, where your underground adventure begins. Drift through ancient caverns on tubes under thousands of glowworms, wade and swim through spring-fed pools of water. After resurfacing into native bush, enjoy a tranquil forest walk and unwind in a cedar hot tub with breathtaking views. The Waitomo Experience is a family owned and operated adventure. We limit each tour to a maximum of six people. This ensures a more intimate, personalized, and enjoyable experience for every visitor. Our farm is proudly carbon positive, meaning it sequesters more carbon than it emits an important part of our dedication to protecting the Cave.
What‘s Included
Black water rafting ( Tubing )
Use of equipment (tubes, high quality wetsuits, boots, and helmets)
Three-hour adventure
Rock Jump (non compulsory)
Cedar hot tub relaxation post tour
Snacks
Hot Showers
Highly trained guides
Amazing Glowworm displays
Wi-Fi at the base building
Photos & Videos
Towels
Swimwear
Socks
Options
Okohua Glowworm Cave Adventure + Cedar Hot Tub
Reviews
23 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience, not to be missed .
VieNZCA,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great activity, well supported and wonderfull glow worms. What I find different with the Waitomo labyrinth is that the glow worms are closer so you enjoyed them more. More stalagmites and stalactites. Photos are free, wet suits almost new and the cedar pool at the end really enjoyable. Be aware that it is more physical and narrow then the black labyrinth. You do have to walk to the caves and walk up a hill at the end of the experience. The road to get to the Waitomo experience is slightly narrow and on gravel. You also have to go down a ladder for about 8m. The group are smaller with the Waitomo experience giving you a more personal tour. Our tour guide was fantastic « Christina », she encouraged us, push us a bit and we felt 200% safe. What a wonderfull experience. If you are fit enough then do take this tour. If you enjoyed the black labyrinthe in the past, then try this one, you will not regret it.
Memorable glowworm experience
Road605040,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked this experience after booking a stay at a holiday home on the nearby family farm (who also own the caves) and we are so glad we did. This was a fantastic ‘bucket list’ experience that we will never forget. Vaughn was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable, humorous and made us feel safe throughout the whole tour. We are a couple in our mid-fifties with fairly good fitness levels and we managed the tour with no problems. The fact that there are only 6 people per tour and only two tours per day makes the experience much more personal and it’s good to know that keeping the number of visitors low lessens the impact of disturbance for the glowworms in the caves. The facilities, equipment and safety briefings were all of a high standard, I wouldn’t hesitate to have this experience again or to recommend to others
Great tour, highly recommended
chevreville,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour which I would highly recommend. Excellent guide who navigated us with care through the cave and gave us lots of information about geology and glowworms. Small group made it very intimate with float under a glow worm ceiling a highlight. Hot tubs at the end in pouring rain were great fun.
On top
Sherpa60344108718,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super friendly guide (Krystina), intimate experience on a human scale, quality of premises , experience on top , quiet , very exotic , jacuzzi at the end very pleasant
Last minute booking for a great three hours
TornadoF3,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was really impressed with the guide and the safety, checking that everyone was comfortable doing the activities and dealing with a member of the group who was not a confident swimmer. Concerns on tight squeezes were dealt with with alternative routes clearly thought through. A truly magnificent experience which was managed in a really professional way.
Fun!!!
824mervis,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very well organized. Easy to find. It was extremely fun experience with just good amount of excitement and physical challenge. Very well guided. Group size (just 6 of us) made it feel like a private tour. We can absolutely recommend, thsnk you!
Underground Cave Exploration
Higginz1991,Jan 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Easily up there with the best cave experiences in Waitomo. I tried the more established cave tour operation nearby the next day and honestly, if I could do it over, I would make this my first choice. Small groups, not difficult for anyone with a normal level of fitness and mobility. Floating silently through the caves under a sky of glowing stars felt unreal and guide Christina was knowledgeable and warm which made the whole experience even more special. Perfectly paced, well organized, and deeply memorable. 10/10 would do again. The only sad part is eventually you have to get out the Hot Tub :) Cheers, guys
Best Glowworm experience period
Edward B,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00No for the faint of heart! It has challenges but the staff are so good with instructions and they made the experience unique and memorable.
Amazing
Manuela R,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was amazing. We never did something like this before, but we really enjoyed it. Olli was an ecxcellent tour guide and made the whole experience perfect. The glowworms are beautiful and its impresive to learn how nature works. The caves are so impresive as they are just like nature made them. Beautiful. Thanks for the warm drink and the snack. I cant say which part i like the most they are all really cool. An adventure we will never forget
The greatest experience in NZ!
Leon V,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Caving on an accessible level trough the okohua cave. You'll have a great time, have many great ways to see the cave and the glowworms (I won't spoil it, just experience it yourself) Be aware; plan this as the last activity in New Zealand, all other experiences just cannot match this.
From NZ$229.00
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Operated by The Waitomo Experience