Waitomo Glow Worm Caves & Te Puia (Rotorua) Private Tour
Description
Experience two top destinations in one day with a special full-day deal! After picking you up from Auckland’s central area, we’ll embark on a scenic 2.5-hour drive through the beautiful Waikato region, heading toward the Waitomo Caves. Upon arrival, you’ll have time for a snack or warm drink before joining a guided tour through the Waitomo Grotto. Walk under the magical glow of unique New Zealand glowworms as your guide shares the cave’s history and significance. Then, board a flat-bottom boat to drift along the Waitomo River, where you’ll get an up-close view of the enchanting glowworms. Next, we’ll drive two hours to Rotorua, home to Te Puia’s geothermal wonders, Māori culture, and native wildlife. Witness the spectacular eruption of the Pohutu Geyser, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as bubbling mud pools, the National Carving and Weaving Institute, and a traditional Māori village. After exploring Te Puia, we’ll return you to Auckland, ending an unforgettable day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
- Guided tour of Waitomo Caves including boat ride.
- Guided tour at Te Puia Geothermal Valley. - Kiwi Bird watching. - Puhuto Geyser, Mud Pools, Maori Village. - Wood & Stone carving school.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up & drop off from any hotels, airport or cruise port in Auckland.
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
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infant seats must be requested at least 24 hours in advance (extra charges apply)
- A minimum of 2 people is required for the tour to operate
- Please advise any dietary requirements you may have at the time of booking
Reviews(16)
We had an excellent tour with Adil. Not only did we see glowworms but also the kiwi bird sanctuary. Finished day with tea at Zealong Tea Estate. Adil was an excellent driver and shared stories and has a talent of talking with the birds, I recommend this tour.
Bring layers for the weather changes. Wear comfortable shoes. Be open for changes in the itinerary. Our guide, Andy, was excellent with accommodating on our trip.
Thank you so much, Jon, for an amazing day trip . We truly appreciated how thoughtfully you planned everything and how generously you shared your knowledge along the way. Your kindness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality made the experience even more special, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Also strongly recommend for this tour, best places to visit, you won’t regret !The vibe is so good , best choice for family and friends
We had a private day trip with our wonderful driver and guide Jon. He picked us up promptly at our hotel and off we went! First quick stop was to get a snack which was much appreciated at that time of the morning. Then off we went to Waitomo Glow Worm Caves which was an awesome sight to see. Then we continued on to Te Puia and Jon checked us in first then brought us to the Secret Spot hot tubs area for an absolutely delicious lunch outside on a nice patio. Jon had planned this perfectly so that when we got back to Te Puia, we would be there in time for the geysers to erupt and the timing was perfect! We got the full show! Then he dropped us off at our hotel in Rotorua. Thanks Jon, you were a great guide and we enjoyed our conversation. Great job!
We had a great time on this tour. Despite being a long day our Tour Guide/Driver Warren was knowledgeable & entertaining the entire trip. His knowledge of NZ, its history & attractions kept us engaged the entire way. The bus was new, clean & very comfortable to travel in. Our tours of Waitomo Glowworm caves & Te Puia Rotorua Geothermal Wonders & Maori Cultural Centre were outstanding & educational & could not be found anywhere else in the world. The facilities at both venues were well designed & maintained & very enjoyable. We thoroughly recommend this tour to anyone interested in NZ’s natural wonders & culture.
Kia Ora, Thank you for recommending Auckland & Beyond Tours and we hope to see you again soon!
Raymond was an excellent tour guide. He was polite and friendly who had a lot of knowledge on NZ. We had a great time and would highly recommend Raymond.
We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing time on our Waitomo Glow Worm Caves & Te Puia Private Tour. From the magical glow worm caves to the geothermal wonders and rich Māori culture of Te Puia, it’s a journey we love sharing with our guests — and we’re so pleased you enjoyed it! Thank you for recommending Auckland & Beyond Tours. We look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable adventures across Aotearoa!
We had a fantastic day trip with the guide Adil who was very nice and very knowledgeable. In addition to giving us good information about the two excursion destinations, he was able to tell us about New Zealand history and how a New Zealander is doing today. Adil had over good tips on a good eatery that in addition to good food could offer mud bath or hot foot bath. We also had the opportunity to feed an ostrich and stop at a beach with lots of black swans. Guides on the two excursion destinations Lysworm Cave and Rotorua’s geysers plus kiwi birds and Maori crafts were also very.
Tack för din fina recension! Vi är så glada att höra att du hade en sevärd och intressant dagsutflykt med oss på vår Waitomo Glow Worm Caves & Te Puia (Rotorua) Private Tour. Det låter som att Adil verkligen gjorde dagen speciell med sin kunskap, trevliga personlighet och lokala tips – från historia till gömda pärlor som lerbad, strutsmatning och svarta svanar! Vi är också glada att du uppskattade guidningen vid lysmaskgrottan och i Rotorua – det är verkligen en unik del av Nya Zeeland. Varmt välkommen tillbaka till oss på Auckland & Beyond Tours när du vill utforska mer av Aotearoa! Med vänliga hälsningar, Auckland & Beyond Tours Team Upptäck det bästa av Nya Zeeland med oss.
Our driver Adil made it a fun and interesting day. A good amount of driving was involved but Adil educated and entertained us between the interesting natural wonders.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you had a fun and interesting day on the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves & Te Puia (Rotorua) Private Tour. It’s great to hear that Adil was able to keep the journey both educational and entertaining, making the long drive enjoyable along with the stunning natural wonders you visited. We truly appreciate your feedback, and we hope to welcome you on more of our tours in the future. Thank you again for choosing Auckland & Beyond Tours!
Wonderful private tour to the Waitomo Caves and Te Puia with lots of useful information from our amazing tour guide Nancy!
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you had a fantastic private tour with Nancy. Her passion for sharing knowledge truly enhances the experience, and we're delighted you found her insights valuable. We hope to see you again for another unforgettable adventure in New Zealand!
Our drivers, Martin and Simon were excellent and gave continuous updates of where we were and what we were seeing. Got a great overview of The New Zealand countryside. However I would only rate the two sites we visited as average. The the Walotapu was nice unless you have been to Yellowstone and then it is underwhelming. The Hobbiton site was very picturesque but unless you are a rabid fan of the movie it was a very long drive for a few pictures.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're very glad to hear that you enjoyed the company of Martin and Simon – they are passionate about what they do and will be pleased to know their commentary and service made a positive impression. We understand that the sites visited may not have fully met your expectations, especially if you've experienced other geothermal wonders like Yellowstone. Each destination offers its own unique charm, and we're sorry to hear that this particular tour didn't quite resonate with you. Your input is valuable, and we truly appreciate your perspective. We're always looking to improve our experiences and offer options that better align with our guests' interests. If your travels bring you back to New Zealand, we'd love the opportunity to help you explore some of the other incredible gems our country has to offer.
