Be amazed by the thousands of magical glowworms above on this 45-minute group guided tour, as you glide silently by boat in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Many of the current guides are descendants of the Maori chief who originally explored the cave and can share with you the remarkable history of the area. Guided since the late 1880s, this is the original, iconic New Zealand attraction.
Discover your moment of magic in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour. Known as one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions, take a boat ride through the glow worm grotto, marvel at thousands of magical glowworms and become part of over 130 years of cultural and natural history.World renowned and a magnet for both local and overseas visitors, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves occupy a high placing in the New Zealand vacation wish-list. The glow worm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as the expert guides provide informative commentary on their historical and geological significance to the region. Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a must see for any traveler. Enjoy the world famous boat ride under thousands of magical glowworms and become a part of over 125 years of cultural and natural history. Walk through the majestic Cathedral Cave famous for its spectacular formations and acoustics. Marvel at Mother Nature's light display as you glide silently through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto. Meander underground along the Waitomo River and gaze in silence at the myriad of glow worm lights that make up the Glowworm Grotto. As you enter this galaxy of tiny living lights, you'll immediately experience a serene ambience and be fascinated and intrigued by tiny glowworms that light your way.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour lasts about 45 min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Drive through the Waitomo Village parking located on the righthand side. Please use walkway under road to access building. Departure Point: Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre. Address: 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo. Dates: Daily. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 23 participants.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 1,242 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by THL - Waitomo Caves Group.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Was interesting and a good experience. We enjoyed this. However, if you are a picture taker like me, then you'll be disappointed. No pictures are allowed on this tour, until the very end and then they pictures aren't but hey, glow worms!
Gliding Under Stars 🌟 it was such a beautiful experience - walking through the caves and learning about their formation, and changes and the glow worms was so interesting. Our guide Steven was so funny and knowledgeable, we had an amazing time! The walk through the caves and getting onto and off of the boat was very easy and supported. Walking from the river up to the cafe and exit was a little steep but railings were provided for support and only took about 5 minutes. It was a great experience! I would do this every time I visit!
Our guide was excellent. The Glowworms were amazing.
This was a great tour with some easy cave walking and a short boat trip inside the caves. The cave was interesting, but it was the glow worms that were the “stars” of the show. Sitting in the boat, looking up at the ceiling and seeing thousands bright lights was truly breath taking. The tour, whilst not the longest available, was for us the right length. More of the same would have spoiled the experience. We highly recommend this tour.
This was just magical! A fantastic way to experience the glowworms in their natural habitat. Our guide, Buster, was a descendent of the man who founded the cave, so cool. He was passionate and informative. Highly recommend, it's beautiful. No pictures allowed inside (they won't really come out anyway). I recommend also doing a tour of the Ruakuri Cave where you can take pictures and learn even more.
It was a great tour, our guide was very informative, spiritual and kind, better tour than expected. Glow worms are super cool to see as well!
Great to get such an up close view of the cavea
Only a couple of hours south of Auckland but stayed local overnight, plenty of budget choices. Interesting tour in beautiful location, drove on to Natural Bridge a geological natural Arch over a river near by both sites worth a look.
Fabulous experience. The caves were awesome, amazing explanation on how they were formed and that they're always changing. The glow worms were amazing to see. The only disappointment was that the photo that was taken at the start was obviously photoshot and a green screen. It didn't ruin the experience- we just didn't buy a photo.
This glowworm tour was great! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience fun. The glowworms were amazing to see in person. This tour is a must see for anyone visiting New Zealand!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour | 45 min | 4.4 (1,242) | — | |
 Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Off the Beaten Track Glowworm Cave Tour | 3h 15min | 5.0 (475) | $126 | View |
 From Auckland: Spellbound, Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small Group Tour | 8–9 hours | 4.9 (240) | $187 | View |
 Private Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours | 3 hours | 5.0 (52) | $689 | View |
 Okohua Glowworm Cave Tour | 3h 30min | 5.0 (39) | $155 | View |
 Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour | 3–5 hours | 4.8 (439) | $114 | View |
 90-Minute Guided Ruakuri Cave Tour Waitomo | 1h 30min | 4.8 (200) | $70 | View |