Auckland to Waitomo Glowworms, Kiwi House & Blue Springs Day Tour
Description
Embark on an extraordinary adventure with our Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Otorohanga Kiwi House and Blue Springs Tour. Step into the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves and marvel at intricate limestone formations, grand caverns, and the stunning Cathedral Chamber, known for its natural acoustics. Then glide by boat through the Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of tiny glowworms illuminate the darkness like a star-filled night sky. Continue your journey at the Otorohanga Kiwi House, encountering New Zealand’s iconic kiwi bird up close and exploring the country’s largest free-flight dome aviary, before visiting the Blue Springs, renowned for its crystal-clear waters. With premium transport, expert guidance, and hotel pick-up and drop-off, this small-group, fully guided tour blends natural wonders, wildlife encounters, and cultural connection into one seamless day. Book now to experience a journey that is as magical as it is memorable.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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 Waitomo Caves approximately- 3 hours
Proceed with a picturesque drive to the Waitomo region, winding through the scenic New Zealand countryside on the way to the Waitomo Caves.
Descend into the enchanting Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where thousands of tiny Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms illuminate the cavern ceiling like a starry night sky. Glide silently by boat along the underground river, gazing in awe at this natural wonder while your expert guide shares fascinating insights into the glowworms’ life cycle and the cave’s geological history. Allow around 45 minutes for this guided experience, blending nature, science, and quiet wonder in one unforgettable setting. Afterwards, stop for lunch (at your expense) at a local eatery, savoring regional flavors before continuing your journey.
Discover the diverse exhibits at the Kiwi House, where encounters with native birds, including the iconic kiwi, offer a unique connection to the country's rich biodiversity.
Recharge with a delectable lunch at a local eatery in Otorohanga (suggestions will be provided by your guide), savoring regional flavors and preparing for the afternoon's encounters. (Lunch is not included in the tour price)
Enjoy a scenic drive to Putāruru, your next stop at the breathtaking Blue Springs, where crystal-clear waters flow through one of New Zealand’s most serene and picturesque natural landscapes.
Enjoy a short, refreshing stroll along the tranquil pathways of the Blue Spring (Te Waihou Walkway), where some of the clearest water in New Zealand flows gently through lush native surroundings. Take your time to soak in the peaceful atmosphere, capture stunning photos of the vivid turquoise waters, and appreciate this pristine natural wonder before continuing your journey.
Reflect on the day’s adventures during a leisurely drive back to Auckland, taking in the memories of the enchanting Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the unique wildlife experience at the Kiwi House, and the natural beauty of the Blue Springs. The return journey is approximately 3.5 hours, offering time to relax and enjoy the scenic New Zealand countryside. Hotel Drop-off: Conclude your day with a convenient drop-off at your Auckland hotel or accommodation.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- If your accommodation is not yet confirmed, we suggest selecting The SkyCity Hotel for now—you can update it later if needed! - We offer convenient pick-ups from selected hotels. If your location isn’t listed, simply choose the nearest available option and meet us there. - Pick-ups start up to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please be ready and waiting outside by then for a smooth start. - Pick-up locations are planned based on each tour and may vary by day. If there are any changes to your pick-up spot, please let us know in advance. - Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. To keep the tour on schedule, we recommend being ready 5–10 minutes early, as we are unable to wait for late arrivals. - As our hotel pickups operate from downtown CBD, guests located near the airport or South Auckland can be picked up from The Sebel, Auckland Manukau at 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau City Centre, Auckland 2104,
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(37)
Wonderful tour and highly recommended! Jaime was our guide and he shared lost of insightful information and fun facts. It was a great experience and an ideal way to see the Kiwis, the Waitomo Caves and the amazing Blue Springs in one day!
The trip was amazing, we thought it was the perfect day and would definitely recommend visiting each place. Our guide David was lovely and so informative about each stop but also taught us all so much about the surrounding country and regions we passed through!
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're so glad you had such a great day and enjoyed all of the stops along the way. It's wonderful to hear that David helped make the experience so memorable. He loves sharing not just the highlights of each destination, but also the stories and history of the regions you travel through. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to him. Thanks again for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
The Glowworms Cave experience is one of beauty and reverence. Our guide was informative, respectful and spiritual. This is an experience not to be missed. The Kiwi Hose was quant, and enjoyable. Our Driver came along with us and gave some interesting facts bout the birds we saw. Finally the Blue Springs was a lovely experience of pure nature which capped the day nicely. Now, a word of caution - be sure to check with your tour company about pick up times. Know that you will have only 20 minutes for a breakfast take away after 2 hours of driving. The same can be said for the Lunch time - which came at 3:30pm on our excursion. The entire day was 11+ hours as advertised.
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review with us. We’re so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the different experiences throughout the day. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves truly are a special place, and we love that you appreciated the peaceful and respectful way the experience was shared. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to your guide. It’s also wonderful to hear you enjoyed the Kiwi House and Blue Springs. The Blue Springs is such a beautiful example of New Zealand’s untouched natural landscapes, and we’re glad it was a memorable part of your journey. We’ll also pass on your comments about the bird facts and commentary from your driver. Thank you as well for your helpful feedback regarding the timing of the day. As this is a full-day tour covering a lot of distance, the schedule can be quite structured to ensure guests have enough time at each location. We appreciate your note about breakfast and lunch timing, and we’ll continue to make sure guests have clear information beforehand so they can plan accordingly. We’re grateful you joined us for this adventure and hope you take home many wonderful memories of your time exploring New Zealand.
Waiting Glowworm cave tour is a must. We had a great time and got a chance to see the beautiful countryside
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're so pleased to hear you had a wonderful day exploring Waitomo with us. The glowworm caves really are one of New Zealand's most magical natural wonders, and we're glad they lived up to your expectations. It's also great to know you enjoyed the journey through our beautiful countryside—it's one of our favourite parts of the experience too. Thank you for choosing to travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure around New Zealand in the future.
Smooth and comfortable ride all round. Plenty of rest and refuel spots and ample time at each stop to soak in the sights. Our guide Aaron was knowledgeable and friendly, and the extra scenic stop was a pleasant surprise!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed such a smooth and comfortable journey from start to finish. Creating an itinerary that balances travel with plenty of opportunities to rest, refuel, and truly appreciate each destination is something we put a lot of thought into, so it's wonderful to know that this made your day even more enjoyable. We're especially pleased to hear that Aaron helped make your experience memorable. His friendly nature, local knowledge, and passion for sharing the region with our guests are qualities we're incredibly proud of, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We're also glad you enjoyed the extra scenic stop—it’s always rewarding when those little surprises become some of the most memorable moments of a trip. Thank you again for your lovely feedback. It was a pleasure having you travel with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future.
This was a great experience and our great guide Cori made it informative and extremely entertaining. Would highly recommend.
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad you had such a great experience. Cori has a wonderful way of making the tour both fun and informative, and they'll be so pleased to hear your kind feedback. Thanks for the recommendation—we really appreciate it and hope to see you again someday.
An average experience, kiwi house is not worth the detour, blue springs a nice walk and waitomo caves interesting
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear the tour didn't fully meet your expectations. The Ōtorohanga Kiwi House is a community-run, non-profit conservation centre, so while it may not have the scale or presentation of some larger wildlife attractions around the world, its focus is on the care and conservation of New Zealand’s unique native wildlife. In addition to the kiwi, it is home to a variety of native birds, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about and appreciate New Zealand’s precious birdlife. At Blue Spring, guests can enjoy the beauty of one of New Zealand’s clearest and most remarkable natural waterways. The crystal-clear turquoise water, peaceful surroundings, and native scenery make it a very special place to visit. Please note that our tour includes a section of the walking track rather than the full track, allowing guests to experience the highlights of this beautiful location while keeping the overall itinerary comfortable and enjoyable for all guests. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural attractions, offering a truly unique underground experience. The ancient limestone formations, fascinating cave history, and the magical sight of thousands of glowworms illuminating the cave ceiling create a memorable experience that many travellers describe as a highlight of their time in New Zealand. Above all, we hope you enjoyed your day with our guide and the personal touch they brought to the journey. We are a New Zealand family-owned and operated business, and creating meaningful experiences for our guests is always at the heart of what we do. Guest satisfaction is our highest priority, and we truly value feedback that helps us continue to improve. Thank you again for travelling with us, and we hope you take home many wonderful memories from your time in New Zealand.
The host, Aaron, was absolutely fantastic. This was my first trip with Expedigo and it went so well that I booked another one with them shortly afterwards! Aaron's inflection on Maori history throughout the drive was something that I particularly appreciated. The trip went smoothly, the beautiful spots are everything that you hope them to be, and we were brought back in time for dinner, with a fun additional stop that I won't spoil for the reader. Oh, and I would recommend that you be on time throughout the tour, unless you're okay with being (gently) told to be more punctual. 🫠 Overall, it was a great trip; highly recommended!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear that your first trip with Expedigo was such a positive experience that you booked another tour with us right away. Aaron will be delighted to know that you enjoyed his insights into Māori history and appreciated the smooth running of the day. We're also glad you enjoyed the surprise extra stop—and thanks for keeping the mystery alive for future travellers! We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure.
My family and I had a great time. Really put my hats off to our guide/driver David for driving us around, explaining to us all areas in the bus and when we were outside at the attraction. He is really nice and polite. A big thank you to David from expedigo tour transfer 👍
Thank you for your kind review. We're so pleased to hear that you and your family had a great time with us. David will be delighted to receive your feedback—he takes great pride in making sure guests have an enjoyable and informative experience. We'll be sure to pass on your thanks to him. We really appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you and your family again in the future.
The glow worm cave was super great - perfect length of time, very interesting, facilities very clean. The Kiwi House was good - very interesting session on efforts to save the kiwi species. The site is showing its age and could use finding to upgrade some of the exhibits.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the glowworm cave visit — it’s such a special place, and it’s great that you found the tour interesting and the facilities well kept. For many guests, seeing the glowworms up close is a real highlight of the day. It’s also nice to hear you found the Kiwi House session interesting. The work being done to protect and recover the kiwi population is incredibly important, and the team there is very passionate about sharing those conservation efforts with visitors. We also appreciate your honest feedback about the exhibits. Maintaining and updating these spaces is always an ongoing process, and comments like yours are helpful as the site continues to evolve and improve for future visitors. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts — we’re glad you were able to experience both parts of the tour and hope the glowworm caves remain a memorable highlight of your trip.
