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.
Options
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
1,190 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Awesome experience
Beasley B,Jul 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Travelled with a friend from Australia who had never seen anything like that before. I’ve lived in New Zealand most of my life and last visited the Waitomo Caves about 40yrs ago. The experience was well worth it and the tour guide Ace was fantastic! The guided tour wouldn’t have been the same without the brilliant guide - very knowledgeable, smart and funny!
10/10 must do
Aimee C,Jul 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00You must do this if visiting NZ. Magical experience, and the guides have such emotional ties it makes it so much more special. We have George (I think was his name) and you could feel the cultural significant from his enthusiasm.
Marvelous
jessicarL1160KE,Jul 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00You can tell they truly care for the preservation of the caves and the history behind it. No photos allowed in the caves themselves, but they do green screen pictures at the beginning which turned out great. The Māori people have generational workers who guide and work at the caves who are wonderful and informative. Our guide’s fifth great grandfather was one of the first explorers of the caves, so he had stories from growing up around the caves, and was also funny! The caves are truly a marvelous sight to behold.
Loved the magic of the “glow worms”
kariw1993,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved the tour of the “glow worm caves”! The cave is well maintained and beautifully preserved and welcoming. The boat ride under the “glow worms” is so magical. Such a fun place to be with our family.
Beautiful!
Amanda F,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We loved this experience! The cave is beautiful and the boat ride through the river in the cave to see the glowworms was magical. Two things to be aware of: 1. You cannot take pictures inside of the cave 2. I would recommend stopping in town to eat as we did not find the food at the restaurant to be our favorite.
Lovely experience!
agustinbR2790CG,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was really good! But expensive.
Not as many glowworms as photo
ExploreOO,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Magic experience, but the boat ride was only 5-10 minutes, and I spent 4 hours on driving. Wish I knew it was that short for the price ($81/person).
Maybe give this a miss
JWL747,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Very disappointed, glow worms have been severely depleted by some recent flooding, very few were found, maybe they should advertise this.
Absolutely amazing experience
Y9373UTrichardh,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience. A must-see for anyone visiting NZ
Interesting
Morgane R,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The activity begins with a visit to the cave and its history (stalactites, stalagmites...), then we descend to the boat for a short visit on the water (about 10 minutes) to observe the fireflies.
Related Experiences
Operated by THL - Waitomo Caves Group