Waitomo Glowworm Caves
A limestone cave system where the ceiling glows with thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa — a glowworm species found only in New Zealand — best seen gliding beneath them in silence by boat.
Quick Facts
- Region
- Waikato, North Island
- Best time
- Year-round
- Entry fee
- From NZD $65 (adult)
- Duration
- 45 minutes – full day (activity-dependent)
Overview
Waitomo ('wai' water, 'tomo' hole) sits above an extensive limestone cave network, carved over 30 million years by underground rivers. The Glowworm Grotto has been open to visitors since 1889, when a local Māori chief and an English surveyor first explored it by raft.
The classic experience is a guided boat trip in near-total silence beneath a ceiling of thousands of glowworms, their bioluminescent light resembling a star-filled night sky. For those wanting more, black-water rafting trips combine the same caves with abseiling, ziplining and floating through underground rapids on an inner tube.
Things To Do
- Glowworm boat tour — a guided walk and silent boat glide beneath the glowworm-lit cave ceiling.
- Black-water rafting — abseil, zipline and tube through underground rivers and glowworm caverns.
- Ruakuri Cave — a longer, more elaborate walking tour through a separate cave system nearby.
- Aranui Cave — a dry cave known for its limestone stalactite and stalagmite formations.
- Waitomo Walkway — a surface-level bush walk along the Waitomo Stream, free and open year-round.
Getting There
Waitomo village is about 2 hours' drive south of Auckland, or roughly an hour from Hamilton. There's parking at the visitor centre, and day tours run from both Auckland and Rotorua.
| Address | 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3943 |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | 9:00am – 5:00pm daily, tours on a fixed timetable |
| Entry Fee | From NZD $65 (adult) for the glowworm boat tour |
| Duration | 45 minutes for the boat tour; half to full day for black-water rafting |
| Accessibility | Boat tour involves steps and uneven cave paths; not wheelchair accessible |
Gallery
Nearby Attractions
Hobbiton Movie Set
The permanent Shire film set on a working sheep farm, about an hour's drive away.
Hamilton Gardens
An award-winning themed garden complex in Waikato's largest city.
Ruakuri Cave
A longer, more elaborate cave tour a short walk from the main Waitomo visitor centre.