Water activity

Waitomo: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat

4.6 / 5

720 reviews

Activity provider: THL - Waitomo Caves Group
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    Water activity

    Waitomo: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour by Boat

    Activity provider: THL - Waitomo Caves Group
    Likely to sell out
    Likely to sell out

    From US$ 34.72 per person

    Explore the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a guided tour. Glide by boat and marvel at the sight of magical glowworms above you.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
    Duration 1 hour
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Live tour guide
    English

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Marvel at the thousands of glowworms as you glide through the caves by boat
    • Learn the history and geology of the caves from a knowledgeable guide
    • Walk through the Cathedral Cave and experience the amazing acoustics
    Full description

    Discover New Zealand's natural wonder of Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a guided boat trip. Glide by boat through this underground complex, watching millions of tiny bioluminescent insects lighting up the rocky limestone. Explore this cave complex, including a chance to visit the Cathedral Cave on foot.

    The caves were formed over 30 million years ago and comprise 2 levels. The upper level is dry and includes the entrance to the cave and formations known as the Catacombs, the Pipe Organ, and the Banquet Chamber. On the lower level are stream passages and the Cathedral. Begin on foot as your local guide brings the caves to life with stories about their history. Then, board a boat and marvel at the light display as you glide silently through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto.

    Includes
    • Admission ticket
    • 45-minute guided tour
    • Local guide
    • Souvenir photos
    Not suitable for
    • Wheelchair users
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    Traveler requirements
    • All participants who are over 12 years old must present proof of full vaccination
    • In addition to proof of vaccination, all participants who are over 18 years old must present a government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, passport, etc)
    • All participants who are over 12 years and 3 months old must present proof of full vaccination

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

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    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes
    • Warm clothing

    Not allowed

    • Cameras
    • Flash photography
    • Video recording
    • Photography inside

    Know before you go

    • No photography is permitted inside the caves, and cameras and GoPros cannot be taken on the tour
    • Souvenir photos are available for purchase after your tour
    • All tours are subject to availability. Pending available time slots, your tour time may be 15-30 minutes before or after the one you have requested
    • Bring comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket
    • The caves are accessible to those with reasonable mobility, as there are good handrails and paths. There is no wheelchair access
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.6 /5

    based on 720 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.7/5
    • Transportation
      4.2/5
    • Value for money
      4.2/5
    • Safety
      4.7/5

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    Star rating:

    Unique experience for myself.. husband been in caves before.. neither of us been on the little boat ride. A great activity if you have money to throw around.. the 45 minute tour including boat ride was a lot of talk while going through caves.. enjoyable.. with a tiny boat ride at the end.

    January 4, 2022

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – New Zealand Verified booking

    Helpful?

    The facility is great and includes art work and a cafe. Ticketing people were happy to oblige with our request. We were lucky to be able to use the outside jetty after the recent rain. It was great to see the care taken to keep this place going. Kia Ora to the kaitiaki.

    July 27, 2021

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – New Zealand Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Highly recommend doing this, we (adults and children) found it to be an incredibly fascinating & magical experience. The boat ride at the end creates a sense of calm and relaxation as you observe the glow worms above you whilst silently gliding along in the boat. Our guide, Moi, was informative, kind and considerate. We loved the whanau connection he had to the caves

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    October 2, 2020

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – New Zealand Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 122921