Private Tour From Auckland to Rotorua & Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Small group
Description
This private luxury tour is designed for couples and allows unlimited stops and to customise the tour to suit. During this tour combination, you will visit New Zealand’s two most iconic and must visit attractions, Rotorua a region rich in cultural history and natural wonders. Then visit Waitomo Glow Worm Caves and marvel at thousands of enchanting glow worms found in a subterranean landscape. Discover New Zealand’s natural wonder which took over 30 million years to form!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Rotorua is a unique region where geothermal activity is evident from the steam appearing on the hills, parks and the lakefront. You will arrive at Te Puia and with a local guide, you will encounter bubbling mud, pools of boiling water and stunning geysers. The Pōhutu geyser is the main attraction. Pōhutu is the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, she erupts once or twice every hour reaching heights of up to 30 meters (100 ft). At Te Puia, you will get to see New Zealand’s national iconic flightless bird, the Kiwi. Experience the unique ways Māori adapted to life in Rotorua.
We will then continue our tour of Rotorua, the lakefront, visit the historical and picturesque government gardens and hot pools. (Under maintenance at present). Our trip to Rotorua weaves together the fascinating geology, rich culture and colonial beginnings of this region that makes it a ‘must visit’ destination.
Waitomo Caves We continue on to Waitomo Valley, the gateway to the spectacular Waitomo Caves. Waitomo was one of New Zealand’s original tourist destination. Its popularity has endured and you’ll soon understand why. Lonely Planet calls the Waitomo Caves a ‘must do attraction’. Under the farmland of the Waitomo area lies a network of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. The caves were carved by underground streams shaping the soft limestone over thousands of years. Many of the caves have amazing stalactites (an icicle-shaped formations that hangs from the ceiling of a cave) and stalagmites (an upward-growing mound of deposits) built gradually over centuries from minerals contained in water that trickled through the caves. But what makes these caves truly unique are the glow worms, Arachnocampa Luminosa. These little creatures are unique to New Zealand. Thousands of them line the cave walls radiating their unmistakable luminescent light giving you the feeling of being close to a million stars. During your tour, a local specialist guide provides a fascinating commentary on the Waitomo Caves’ history and geology as you explore the caves on foot and by boat. The gentle boat ride takes you silently down a peaceful underground stream lit only by the millions of tiny glow-worms lining the walls and roof of the cave. A truly awe-inspiring experience.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Cruise Ship guests will be met at the point of exit from the customs area to the arrival area of the port with a name board for ease of identification. Airport transfers extras unless it is specified otherwise, please contact us to confirm.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Waitomo Glowworm cave booking would be subject to availability, please check availability with management before booking.
- Full refund will be given in case there is no availability at Waitomo Glowworm cave or because of bad weather
Reviews(4)
Chris was very professional, caring, and extremely knowledgeable about the history and landmarks of New Zealand. We had the pleasure of working with him for two days, and he did not disappoint. I could tell that he really loves his job and genuinely cares about his guests. If you're looking for punctuality, comfort, and a friendly welcoming vibe, definitely book Chris.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and for choosing Black Car Transfers and Tours for your private Rotorua & Waitomo experience. We’re delighted to hear that Chris made such a positive impression over the two days. His passion for New Zealand, professionalism, and genuine care for our guests are exactly what we strive to deliver on every tour. Knowing you appreciated the punctuality, comfort, and friendly atmosphere truly means a lot to us. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we would be absolutely delighted to welcome you back again in the future. Safe travels and thank you once again for the recommendation!
Drive to the cave from Auckland was a bit long, but the driver was friendly and talkative. The glow worm cave was impressive and with seeing.
Hi Larry & Scott, Thank you for taking time to post a 5 star review, I am pleased that you enjoyed your journey to the caves and hope we are able to assist you on your next trip to Auckland New Zealand.
Kris was not only an amazing driver, but an amazing tour guide while driving several hours. He accommodated my food allergy and provided me with an abundance of knowledge enroute to my tour destinations. He was punctual and on time for everything we had planned. He always checked in to see if I needed anything— to and from our destinations. If you want a fantastic, personal trip, I highly recommend Black Car Transfers and Tours!
Hi Morgan, Thank you so much for your positive feedback, it was my pleasure to have had you as a guest on the Waitomo cave/ Rotorua private tour. It makes us incredibly happy to know that you enjoyed and were happy with your experience with our services. Thanks for writing this review, Cheers!
We had a limited amount of time in New Zealand and wanted to see as much as we could in a short amount of time. Therefore, we decided to look for a private tour (as opposed to a large bus tour) that could get us to several places in one day. We could not have been more pleased with Kris and Black Car Transfers. We booked online for a tour the very next day. Within 30 minutes, Kris called to advise tickets were sold out for the Waitomo Glowworm Caves listed in the description, but Kris went the extra mile and found an alternate cave tour that had availability. We are so glad we took his suggestion. Ruakuri Caves was incredible! It was a 90-minute walking tour (not via boat like Waitomo) but this one was better for us. You could get close to the cave structures and glowworms (of course without touching them) and could also take photographs there (without flash). After finishing this tour, we headed to Rotorua. The extended cave tour kept us from getting lunch at the intended location (or we'd be late for our Rotorua booking) so Kris asked what we would like to eat and quickly found a wonderful sushi restaurant where we were able to get fabulous food to go. Kris had to pivot several times to make our tour work on such short notice and he impressed us every time! The luxurious car was stocked with water and a multitude of fresh fruit and snacks. The tour from start to finish was twelve hours (with pick-up and drop-off at our Auckland hotel) and we enjoyed every minute!
Hi Lori, I appreciate your review of our services at Black Car Transfers & Tours, for us it is all about your experience and it all begins when you book your tour with us. I hope to see you again if you visit Auckland New Zealand again Thank you for your business.
