Guided Tours

Off the Beaten Track – Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tour

5.0/5(76)

Susan B

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

Loved the pristine and tranquil surroundings. Loved the mystery of climbing through caves. Loved the variety oy limestone formations Loved learning about glow worms. Loved the magic of a cave lit up with thousands of glow worms. Ash was an amazing guide!

Small-group adventure with private access to family-owned cave, away from crowds, led by local guide.

Equipped with helmet, headlamp, gumboots, and clothing; explore limestone passages and glowworm chambers.

Walk through shallow streams, climb rocks/boulders, see stalactites/stalagmites and glowworm displays.

Finish with complimentary photos, tea/coffee/biscuits; supports native forest restoration and predator control.

3.5-hour guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Cave

Exclusive access to a private cave system on a family farm

Expert local guide

Small group of up to 8 people

Safety equipment & warm clothing

Snack & hot drinks

Complimentary photos

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

76 reviews
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These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Australia, Germany, France and over 13 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Susan B
Couple
Verified booking
May 2026
Loved the pristine and tranquil surroundings. Loved the mystery of climbing through caves. Loved the variety oy limestone formations Loved learning about glow worms. Loved the magic of a cave lit up with thousands of glow worms. Ash was an amazing guide!
Lea B
Group
Verified booking
Mar 2026
We loved the small group experience. Our tourguide Ash was really amazing. He told us a lot of facts and also some funny stories. We climbed through the cave and had a lot of fun.
Gaetan B
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
We loved our experience with Barbara at Down to earth ! We were only a group of 5 with an incredible guide and we recommend 100% !
Poul N
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
It was a great experience and a very special moment in the cave. Thank you so must 🍀
Carina L
Group
Verified booking
Mar 2026
Our tour guide was in a great mood and explained everything very well and clearly. He also cracked a few jokes here and there to lighten the mood. We received the photos from the tour right away, so we didn't really have to take any pictures ourselves.

Private cave entry: Begin your adventure with exclusive access to a hidden cave system on a family-owned farm, far from the crowded tourist routes.

Underground trek: Spend around 2.5 hours exploring twisting limestone passages, underground streams, and chambers lit by thousands of glowworms in their natural habitat.

Hands-on exploration: Wade through cool waters, climb over boulders, and discover intricate stalactites and stalagmites up close.

Post-adventure treat: Return to the surface for hot drinks, cookies, and showers, plus free tour photos to take your glowworm memories home.

Know before you go

What to bring

If you choose to bring your phone on the tour, we recommend using a phone lanyard. Phones that are dropped may not be retrievable. Phone lanyards are also available to purchase onsite.

What's not allowed

Large cameras and tripods are not allowed on this experience.

This experience is restricted for guests under the age of 12 years and over the weight of 120kg (264.55lb).

Accessibility

Elderly guests or those with mobility issues are restricted from participating in this experience.

This experience requires a reasonable level of fitness as it involves 2 hours of hiking to get to Waitomo Glowworm Cave, including climbing over boulders, walking up hills, and wading through streams with rocks underfoot.

Additional information

Facilities: Shower.

Caving equipment includes thermals, fleece jumper, shorts, gumboots, socks, helmet & headlamp.

Guests under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Note : This experience involves 2 hours of hiking to get to Waitomo Caves. This involves climbing over boulders, walking up hills, and wading through streams with rocks underfoot, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at Down to Earth - Waitomo Eco Tours.

Address: 1199 Oparure Road, Waitomo 3985, New Zealand.

Landmark: Drive directly to the farmhouse and it is sign posted along the way.

Get directions to the meeting point