Overview
Available languages
45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Be amazed by the thousands of magical glowworms above on this 45-minute group guided tour, as you glide silently by boat in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Many of the current guides are descendants of the Maori chief who originally explored the cave and can share with you the remarkable history of the area. Guided since the late 1880s, this is the original, iconic New Zealand attraction.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Bring comfortable waking shoes and a warm jacket
You must check in 30 minutes before the tour departs .
Due to high demand and limited capacity, if you are late or 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
No photography allowed
Not suitable for those who have difficulty navigating stairs
What To Expect
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Discover your moment of magic in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour. Known as one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions, take a boat ride through the glow worm grotto, marvel at thousands of magical glowworms and become part of over 130 years of cultural and natural history.World renowned and a magnet for both local and overseas visitors, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves occupy a high placing in the New Zealand vacation wish-list. The glow worm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as the expert guides provide informative commentary on their historical and geological significance to the region. Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a must see for any traveler. Enjoy the world famous boat ride under thousands of magical glowworms and become a part of over 125 years of cultural and natural history. Walk through the majestic Cathedral Cave famous for its spectacular formations and acoustics. Marvel at Mother Nature's light display as you glide silently through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto. Meander underground along the Waitomo River and gaze in silence at the myriad of glow worm lights that make up the Glowworm Grotto. As you enter this galaxy of tiny living lights, you'll immediately experience a serene ambience and be fascinated and intrigued by tiny glowworms that light your way.
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WGC 01 October 2026-30 Sept27
Waitomo Glowworm Cave
Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tour: Be amazed by thousands of magical glowworms above, as you glide silently by boat in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
What‘s Included
Local guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
1,180 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The waitomo caves are...
Meenakshi M,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The waitomo caves are nice, although I would maybe try somewhere closer to Rotorua next time. The drive was a bit far.
Well worth the trip from Sydney!
kwY622SJ,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabulous!! It was superb! Ethereal - looking at the glow worms in the dark. Delta Dawn was terrific in the Banquet Room -Cathedral 😍
Goated tour 🔥
Sightsee62455904352,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ocean is a great tour guide. He has nice sense of humor
Cool Glow Worms.
MTC1462,May 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour of the Waitomo glow worm caves. Our guide was very knowledgeable. The boat ride through the cave was beautiful. It was fun, educational and awe-inspiring. A Must Do!
Optional
Melissa R,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00The boat ride where you really see the glowworms was max 5-10 minutes. Also you were not allowed to take pictures and they take a picture infront of a green screen and Photoshop you into an unrealistic picture of the cave and charge you 25$ if you want it, wouldn't recommend. There is a bushwalk nearby which is amazing and you also walk through a cave ☺️
Fun stories, cool space
Eric R,May 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Steven has probably led this tour thousands of times but somehow he made our group feel special. Fun stories in a cool space.
Last Tour of the Day
Donna L,May 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I tried booking this through a 3rd party but they could not get a reservation at the time. I checked a few days later through Viator and was able to reserve. I would recommend using Viator even if it does cost a little more (I had a coupon for the 3rd party). There is peace of mind going through a major company like Viator. The guided tour itself was great. We had Cohen as our guide and he made us laugh and gave us great insight. The best part was that because we were the last tour of the day, we were not rushed. He also was able to do something near the end which made the Glowworms light intense which was awesome - he said he could only do this as the last tour whether that was true or not I could not say.
world's best TOUR GUIDE
Tobias N,May 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00world's best TOUR GUIDE. He was so funny, informative and talked about important and deep messages. He was fantastic. Also the tour was really nice, the caves and glowworms are stunning.
Magical
lindsaylloyd,May 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Feel so fortunate to have experienced the magic in these caves
Misleading prices
il103,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Waitomo caves are amazing. Im writing this review about TripAdvisor. I thought i was buying tickets for $49. But it turns out to be $80 nzd. Seems misleading that its not mentioned clearly that its USD instead of NZD.
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