Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours & Black Water Rafting adventures

Waitomo Glowworm Caving & Rafting Adventure Tours

Sharing thrills & excitement for over 30 years, the Legendary Blackwater Rafting Company offer the most fun you can have in the dark. Abseil, weave, climb, jump, and float through a glowworm-studded subterranean wonderland below Waitomo. With exhilarating caving & rafting tours, namely Black Abyss and Black Labyrinth to choose from, there is something to suit all adventurous spirits and the resident glowworms, stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you.

WAITOMO UNDERGROUND CAVING & RAFTING ADVENTURE TOURS

We’ve been sharing thrills and excitement for over 30 years and have experienced guides who’ll take you safely through the stunning underworld of Ruakuri Cave. We will take you deep underground on the most unreal subterranean journey that’ll have you begging for more!

Waitomo Cave Tours – Black Labyrinth (allow 3 hours)

Price: From $142 per person
Duration: allow 3 hours
Adventure Departs: Summer: every 30 minutes from 7am

The original Waitomo black water rafting tour that will have you exploring and tubing through mysterious Ruakuri Cave. Grab a group of mates, some rubber tubes, and let’s take you on an unreal underground adventure you will never forget.

Float down the underground river in rubber tubes while admiring the glowworm displays above
Become part of the legend on Waitomo’s original legendary black water rafting adventure
Jump into cascading underground waterfalls, reflecting the glowworms above
Enjoy a hot shower and complimentary hot soup and bagels after your tour

Waitomo Cave Tours – Black Abyss (allow 5 hours)

Price: From $246 per person
Duration: allow 5 hours
Adventure Departs: Every hour from 7am-2pm in the summer.

For the ultimate in adventure caving tours, look no further than the Black Abyss. You will descend into the black, seemingly bottomless depths of Ruakuri Cave, zipline through a gallery of illuminating glowworms and climb underground waterfalls as you test your limits on this truly unforgettable journey.

The most comprehensive caving experience including an underground flying fox and waterfall climbs
Abseil down a unique 35 metre tomo (hole)
Enjoy a hot shower and complimentary hot soup and bagels after your tour

Waitomo Glowworm Caves – Discover New Zealand’s natural highlights

Price: Adults $51 pp – Child $23.50 – Family $127 (2 adults + 2 children)
Duration: allow 45 minutes
Tour departs: Every hour from 7am-5-30pm in the summer.
Last tour at 5.30pm from 01 November – 31 March. Tours depart every half hour daily from 9am-5pm daily from 01 April – 31 October. Allow 45 minutes.

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 glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. T?housands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as our expert guides provide informative commentary on the Caves’ historical and geological significance.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a must see for any traveller. Enjoy the world famous boat ride under thousands of magical glowworms and become a part of over 120 years of cultural and natural history.

The Boat Ride
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.

Ruakuri Cave – Waitomo’s longest underground guided walking tour.

Price: Adult $74 pp – Child $29 – Family $180 (2 adults + 2 children)
Duration: allow 2 hours
Tours depart daily at 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm & 3:30pm.

According to Maori legend, Ruakuri Cave (rua meaning den, and kuri meaning dog) was first discovered 400-500 years ago by a young Maori hunting for birds. He was attacked by wild dogs just outside the original cave entrance. Re-opened in 2005, this cave is now an amazing example of engineering and natural cave structure.
Ruakuri Cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo’s most compelling subterranean experiences. Journey down through the spectacular spiral entrance, and marvel at the softly folding shawl-like limestone formations and crystal tapestries. Hear the distant thunder of the subterranean waterfalls and get up close to the glowworms.
Ruakuri Cave is New Zealand’s longest guided underground walking tour and an experience that must be seen to be believed. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature.

Aranui Cave – Waitomo’s best kept secret

Price: Adult $50 pp – Child $23 – Family $127 (2 adults + 2 children)
Duration: allow 2 hours
Departs: Regular tours run daily from 9:00am with the last tour at 4pm (bookings are recommended). Allow 1 hour.

Aranui Cave is set in the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, 5 minutes 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. 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. Visit soon to see the richly varied cave formations within close-up view and enjoy an experience you will never forget.