We offer two different Blackwater Rafting experiences through the Ruakuri Cave. The Black Labyrinth is the original, 3-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. You will jump off two small waterfalls (highest is 1.5 meters), float on a tube underneath an impressive display of glowworms and navigate through the cave’s natural streamway. All participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 45kgs. The Black Abyss is the ultimate 5-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. Abseil 35 metres into the cave and zipline across a river under a grotto of glowworms. You'll then float on a tube through the caves' natural streamway. All participants must be at least 16 years old and weigh 45kgs. An average level of fitness and mobility is required for both of our tours. It is important to understand that these tours take you into a completely natural cave environment. Please understand that your guides have final discretion of whether you will be able to participate on our tours.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 84 of the next 300 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.
The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., is the check-in point for both of our Blackwater Rafting tours. From here, your guides will take you to go get geared up for your tour. Free lockers are available for your belongings.
Both of our Blackwater Rafting Tours take you through our glowworm-studded Ruakuri Cave. For those on the Black Labyrinth tour, you can expect to spend up to an hour and a half inside of the cave system. On the Black Abyss tour, participants will spend up to three hours inside the cave.
You'll arrive back at The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., once you've completed your tour. Hot showers and hearty soup are available for you, free of charge.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Our summary of the 99 most recent reviews out of 440 (Jan 2026 – Oct 2026), collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Travelers describe a genuinely active caving trip where the reward is drifting in the dark beneath thousands of glowworms, led by guides who coax even nervous people through. Be ready for very cold water, slippery rocks and tight squeezes.
Most reviews credit the guides for blending humor, cave and glowworm knowledge, and a firm focus on safety. Several mention guides singing Māori songs during the float, which people found moving.
The tube float in total darkness with the ceiling lit up like a night sky is the moment many single out, and some say it beats a passive boat ride through other caves.
A good number arrived anxious about heights, water, tight spaces or their age and fitness, and say the guides' patience and a practice jump got them through.
Reviewers enjoy the variety: jumping backwards off small waterfalls on a tube, scrambling through the streamway and, on the longer Abyss version, abseiling and ziplining.
Hot drinks or treats inside the cave and soup and hot showers afterwards are appreciated touches after the chill.
Many mention cold water even in thick wetsuits, and one slim reviewer was waiting for the long submerged stretch to end. It is part of the setting rather than a fault of the operator.
Some warn the terrain is harder than expected: slippery uneven rock, strong current underfoot and cramped passages. Those with poor balance or claustrophobia are advised to think twice.
How we make this: we read the most recent reviews and sum up what travelers say again and again, good and bad. It is our summary, not a review; the reviews themselves are further down this page. Updated Oct 2026.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour lasts about 3–5 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
Prices start at $114 per person for this Waitomo experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 10 departures a day between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
It can: 84 of the next 300 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Departure Point: The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co, 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo 3977. Return point: Returns to original departure point. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 440 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by THL - Waitomo Caves Group.
Reviewers call it manageable with average fitness, and several people in their 60s finished it. It does involve wading against current, crawling through low gaps and scrambling over slippery rock.
Many anxious visitors, including non-swimmers and people afraid of heights, say the guides made them feel safe. Reviewers with claustrophobia had mixed experiences, and a couple advise skipping it if confined spaces are a serious issue.
Most say yes, describing thousands overhead. A couple expected more glow based on the publicity photos.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Absolutely loved this experience! Great way to start off your trip in New Zealand. The water was cold but you were too busy climbing, repelling, ziplining and staring up at glowworms to care too much. They gave us hot beverages while we floated around and shared fun facts about the glowworms and also got up close to stalactites which was cool to see.
Floating through the dark caves with the glowworms lighting up the ceiling above us felt like being under a sky full of stars. It was exciting, a little adventurous, and something we had never experienced before. Our guides were friendly, professional, and made the whole experience fun and comfortable. Definitely a must-do when visiting New Zealand!
Honestly, we did bungy jumping, skydiving, and this adventure. Of the three, this might be the most memorable.
Right from the beginning I was extremely impressed. Booking tickets was easy, the warm welcome at reception when we arrived. Then the energetic guides that made the whole trip a real step up. I did this with 3 adult children, and I was finally able to get two really good, updated family pics. Highly recommend this trip to everyone.
Absolutely worth it! It was an amazing experience and would do it again! We had so much fun and it was a thrilling and beautiful experience.
Incredible activity, my husband and I had the best time. The guides were great, appreciated the very clear instructions throughout the tour.
Excellent guides!!! Really cool experience, the belaying was awkward and we weren't able to execute well but other than that it was awesome. The hot showers at the end are a great idea but they were way too scalding hot to actually shower.
What an incredible experience! The Waitomo Caves exceeded all our expectations. The glowworms created a magical atmosphere, and the guides, Luke and Scuba took very good care of us, making safety their top priority. From Peter & Olivia, Singapore
A fun way to discover the cave and see the glowworms. It was a unique experience. The hot shower and the soup afterwards were very pleasant.
This Black water rafting was unforgettable experience. Floating through the underground caves beneath thousands of glowing glowworms was truly magical. Amazing guides.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour | 3–5 hours | 4.8 (440) | $114 | |
 Private Tour: Hobbiton Movie Set, Black Water Rafting & Waitomo | 12 hours | — | $1,099 | View |
 Black Labyrinth: Black Water Rafting - Private Tour from Auckland | 11 hours | 5.0 (9) | $721 | View |
 Rotorua Rafting: Kaituna River White Water Rafting & Free Sauna | 2h 30min | 5.0 (2,160) | $78 | View |
 Rotorua White Water Rafting | Kaitiaki Adventures + Transport | 2h 30min | 5.0 (816) | $80 | View |
 Underworld Black Water Adventure - Private Tour From Auckland | 12 hours | — | $773 | View |
 Private Waitomo Caves Tour - Auckland Tour House | 8–10 hours | 5.0 (2) | $373 | View |