M
Stalactite sensation.
It is well worth seeing all the beautiful white stalactites and stalacmites. The walk is about 5 -10 minutes and easy enough not too ”long and steep”.
1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Location
- Waitomo
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 · 39 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 21
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Within 24h
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- THL - Waitomo Caves Group
- Meeting point
- Drive from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves along Waitomo Village Road. Turn left at the roundabout on to Tumutumu Road. Continue a further 1.8kms turing right down to the Ruakuri Scenic reserve. Park and wait for your guide at the small shelter. Departure Point: Ruakuri Scenic Reserve Car Park
Description
Discover serenity in the most delicate and intimate of the main caves in Waitomo. Begin your tour with a guided walk through an enchanted forest before discovering the most beautiful collection of decorative formations. Cave has a natural cave entrance and is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. As a dry cave without a running river through it, it houses very little life past its entrance. Walk through the cave with your guide on this 1-hour tour, with an additional 15-minute guided bush walk. Visit soon to see the richly varied cave formations within close-up view and enjoy an experience you will never forget. Choose from one of seven departure times when you book.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Aranui Cave
Set in the forest of the Ruakuri scenic reserve, the beautifully delicate formations in Aranui Cave create a place for quiet contemplation and a time to reflect on the wonders of nature. Aranui Cave is a magical, mystical place that is steeped in Maori myth and legend. As such, it occupies a very special place in the hearts of the people of the Waitomo district. Aranui Cave is set in the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, 5 minute drive from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. It is named after Ruruku Aranui, the local Maori man who first discovered this previously hidden gem back in 1910. Aranui Cave has a natural cave entrance and is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. As a dry cave without a river running through it, it houses very little life past its entrance. However, just inside the entrance is a colony of native New Zealand cave wetas and further into the cave is the most beautiful collection of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and decorative formations. On this guided tour, explore the ancient cave formations, high chambers and huge stalactites and stalagmites of Aranui Cave, one of Waitomo’s best kept secrets. These small-group tours are led by experienced guides who can provide information on the cave's unique geology and history.
What's included
Included
Local guide
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.3
39 reviews
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- All you will need are comfortable shoes and a warm jacket.
- Not suitable for those who have difficulty navigating stairs
- 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
- Your own transport is required
- You must check in 30 minutes before the tour departs
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does 1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo take?
1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo lasts about 1 hour. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Can I cancel 1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Drive from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves along Waitomo Village Road. Turn left at the roundabout on to Tumutumu Road. Continue a further 1.8kms turing right down to the Ruakuri Scenic reserve. Park and wait for your guide at the small shelter. Departure Point: Ruakuri Scenic Reserve Car Park. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is 1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 21 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is 1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 39 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by THL - Waitomo Caves Group.
Reviews(39)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
B
Cave walk
A comfortable walk through an old growth forest to a limestone cave with tall ceilings and massive formations. Stone cathedrals well lit for god photos. Our guide was knowledgeable and considerate taking photos of us. Pathways are mostly steel grating and stairs, no slopping of slipping.
G
Respect for nature...
Respect for nature No stroller possible! Eat and drink before! Firm shoes! Lots of stairs!
G
Fab
Guide was fantastic and very passionate about his work. The caves were amazing
A
Great cave tour — be aware not a glow worm tour
Tyler our tour guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and personable Unfortunately we thought we’d see glow worms on this tour — it was deceptively advertised.
1 people found this helpful
D
Excellent tour guide made for great experience
Guide was excellent. Very informative and engaging. Tour was suitable for the whole family. Children ages 6 through 14 and two adults. Learned a lot and saw unique formations. Tour was a good length of time.
O
First Time
Amazing 🤩 highly recommended it was very well organised. The tour guide and service was punctual. We even sang a song in Spanish.
C
Over quickly and not worth what you pay for
All that money for a one-hour tour that was in fact over in 40 minutes! What you see is great, but it's not a lot, over quickly, and you pay a lot for it. As the caves are in the middle of nowhere it really is a trip out of your way to get there. Since being discovered as late as 1910 - and by an Englishman (as stated on the display boards at the site - ignore the internet) - seems it has been turned by the locals into quite the money-pot. Compared to a previous visit 23 years ago, the site is more run-down and tired, the cafe very average (which is a major crime in NZ!), and the gift shop extremely expensive and selling awful tourist tack. I was told that since my last visit ownership has changed to the locals... maybe that explains it, nothing like milking a cash cow and spinning some tails about "spiritual significance" (ie we love the money we rake in from this!). As I say, what you see is amazing - there's just not much to see, and it's all over just when you think you're half-way through and waiting expectantly for the big-wow to come.... sadly it doesn't, what comes is the exit point. For us, it was a two-hour drive to get there, overall it wasn't worth it and in all honesty I can't recommend it for the price you pay. But for tourists with lots of money and nothing better to do, it'll fill in some time and the countryside you pass through to get to the caves is magnificent.
J
Glow Times
Great and rememberable experience. Thanks for the guiding, Kyle. Worth the trip. My family had a great time and would recommend for everyone. May you get “dripped” on.
F
Otherworldly
Pretty amazing unique experience. Highly recommend. Bit trip under a cave to see predator worms is something else. A++
Compare similar tours in Waitomo
- Lowest price: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour — $49
- Best rated: Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Off the Beaten Track Glowworm Cave Tour — 5.0 (476 reviews)
- Shortest: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour — 45 min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo | 1 hour | 4.3 (39) | — | |
 Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour | 45 min | 4.4 (1,243) | $49 | View |
 Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Off the Beaten Track Glowworm Cave Tour | 3h 15min | 5.0 (476) | $125 | View |
 Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour | 3–5 hours | 4.8 (440) | $114 | View |
 From Auckland: Spellbound, Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small Group Tour | 8–9 hours | 4.9 (241) | $187 | View |
 90-Minute Guided Ruakuri Cave Tour Waitomo | 1h 30min | 4.8 (200) | $70 | View |
 Private Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours | 3 hours | 5.0 (52) | $686 | View |
4.3(39) Free cancellation