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8 Best Waitomo Cave Tours

Nz pocket guide is 10 years old. thank you for trusting us with your trip for over a decade, what are the best cave and glowworm tours in waitomo.

By now, you probably know about the marvels that hide beneath the rolling farmland of Waitomo. The Waitomo caves are among some of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, but many travellers only discover just how many glowworm cave tours there are once they get to Waitomo, by which point, you’re already booked onto the first cave tour you came across. There are five different companies taking you into the caves of Waitomo to either do some caving, walking or floating in a raft, boat or even a rubber tube. Don’t get stuck with taking the first cave tour you hear about- there are many options to suit a range of budgets, ages, abilities and personalities.

So, pick the best Waitomo experience for you with this list of the best Waitomo cave tours. Plus, while you’re here, you might want to plan the rest of your trip starting with The Complete Guide to Waitomo .

1. The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.

Combine the adrenaline adventure that New Zealand is famous for with the majesty of the Waitomo caves networks on a cave tour with The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. Go cave tubing complete with underground waterfall jumps on the three-hour Black Labyrinth tour or go all out on the five-hour Black Abyss tour with abseiling, waterfall climbing, ziplining and more. Both options give you the opportunity to see small clusters of glowworms, as well as a few interesting limestone formations along the way. All in all, this activity is all about adventure. See how the tours compare in What is the Best Black Water Rafting Tour in New Zealand? or head to Viator and Tripadvisor to book your tour.

Location: 585 Waitomo Caves Road

2. Cave World Waitomo

Escape the crowds of Waitomo’s more popular caves on a small-group experience with Cave World Waitomo. This 1h15min walking tour ventures through native bush and waterfalls to the breathtaking Footwhistle Cave. The cave scenery is dimly lit, just enough for you to admire the stunning limestone formations and glowworm displays. The tour concludes with a traditional New Zealand kawakawa tea in native forest surroundings. Learn more about Cave World Waitomo on Viator and Tripadvisor .

Location: 23 Waitomo Village Road

3. Ruakuri Cave

One of the most accessible cave tours in Waitomo, the Ruakuri Cave is not only suitable for all ages but is also wheelchair and stroller accessible. After delving down a spiral walkway, the 1h25mins experience takes you through tunnels to various chambres displaying some of the most impressive stalactite formations in Waitomo. You’ll have the opportunity to see small glowworm displays glowing on the ceilings, as well as close-up. The tour is a good option to enjoy a comprehensive glowworm cave experience without getting wet. Learn more about Ruakuri Cave on Viator or Tripadvisor .

Location: Tumutumu Road

4. Glowing Adventures

See the Waitomo caves exactly as nature intended on the glowworms cave tours with Glowing Adventures. There are no concrete floors, no walkways or artificial lighting in this cave network on a family farm giving you an authentic caving experience. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t magnificent features to behold, in fact, it’s quite the opposite with what looks like limestone waterfalls frozen in time, stalactites and, of course, beautiful displays of glowworms. Groups are limited to six people, while private tours and even photography tours are available. Find out more about the different tours available on Viator and Tripadvisor . Plus, we list this experience in the 9 Luxury Activities in Waitomo .

Location: 1199 Oparure Road, Te Kuiti

5. Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Easily the most popular cave tour in Waitomo, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is affordable, quick and has one of the best glowworm displays in the country. Delve into a giant limestone chamber known as Cathedral Cave where you’ll experience the amazing acoustics, before getting a quick chance to marvel at some of the glowworms close up. The highlight of the 30 to 45-minute trip, however, is the gentle float in a boat underneath one of the largest known displays of glowworms in New Zealand – just magical! See Viator and Tripadvisor for more details on the tour.

Location: 39 Waitomo Village Road

6. Waitomo Adventures

Offering the largest array of adventure activities in Waitomo, Waitomo Adventures is the perfect option for travellers who want to get into the true New Zealand spirit of adventure. Six different tour options allow you to experience some or all of Waitomo Adventures’ underground challenges among giant caverns, such as a 100m (328ft) free-hanging abseil, waterfall abseils, gentle ziplines, tubing (also known as black water rafting), climbing, scrambling and more. The caves are full of dramatic stalactites, as well as clusters of glowworms to admire. On-site is also the children’s activity the Troll Cave, a cafe and a day spa. Find out more about the Troll Cave in the 10 Things to Do in Waitomo with Kids .

Location: 1227 Waitomo Valley Road

7. Spellbound Glowworm & Cave Tours

One of the best-value cave tours in Waitomo, Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tours offers an incredible 3h15min experience seeing breathtaking glowworm displays and admiring awe-striking limestone formations. Their combined glowworm and cave tour takes you to two separate caves, starting with the Spellbound Cave where you’ll gently float on a raft down an underground river with a galaxy of glowworms above your head. Next, it’s the Spirit Cave with stalactites, tomo and sinkholes, as well as the chance to see the remains of the long-extinct moa. Tours to see just the Spellbound Cave, as well as private tours, are also available.

Location: 15 Waitomo Village Road (in the general store)

8. Aranui Cave

Last, but by no means least, the Aranui Cave is an intimate cave experience that offers something a little different from glowworms. With no running stream through the cave, you’ll instead find intriguing creatures like the giant native insect, the weta. You’ll follow the boardwalks to narrow chambers awash in magnificent limestone features, long stalactites and even various shades of colour. This cave tour is definitely a must for those more interested in seeing spectacular cave landscapes than glowworms.

Location: 39 Waitomo Village Road.

More About Tours in Waitomo

• 8 Romantic Activities in Waitomo for Couples
• 15 Free Things to Do in Waitomo
• 10 Waitomo Must-Dos

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
• Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
• Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
• AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
• NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
• Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards : At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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Waitomo Glowworm Caves

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 glowworm grotto, marvel at thousands of magical glowworms and become part of over 130 years of cultural and natural history..

Discover an ancient world 30 million years in the making and marvel at Mother Nature’s light display. Explore the cave by foot before embarking on a boat ride, gliding silently through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto. Experience the serene ambience as you enter this galaxy of tiny living lights. The glowworm (Arachnocampa Luminosa) is unique to New Zealand, making the Waitomo Glowworm Caves an absolute must-do. See thousands of these tiny creatures as they radiate their unmistakable luminescent light in a subterranean world.

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves tours are made up of two levels. The upper chamber is dry and decorated with stunning, delicate cave formations, and the lower level consists of stream passages, glowworms and the Cathedral, the tallest chamber in the cave.

Many of our guides are direct descendants of the Maori chief who originally explored the cave, bringing the cave to life through story-telling and explaining the world-famous cave's history, features and legends.

Compare all experiences  to find the suitable tour for you.

NZD$75 Adult

NZD$34 Child

NZD$191 Family (2A+2C)

NZD$27 Extra Child (Family Pass)

Check out our combo deals to enjoy the Waitomo Glowworm Cave alongside our other caves for a great price.

Most Popular Combo  - Waitomo Glowworm Cave + Ruakuri Cave

Twin Cave Combo  -  Waitomo Glowworm Cave + Aranui Cave

Essential Information

• 39 Waitomo Village Rd, Waitomo Caves
• 0800 456 922
• Open daily 8:30am - 5pm. Pre-Booking is Essential
• Tours depart multiple times daily - Pre-Booking is Essential
• [email protected]

Departure Information

Current Departure Times: Open daily 8:30am-5:00pm

Allow 45 minutes.

Pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment 

You must Check in 30 minutes prior to your tour departure . 

*If you arrive late or miss your scheduled departure time your ticket will be forfeited and new tickets will need to be purchased subject to availability

Preparation

• Wear comfortable shoes
• Wear a warm jacket

The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is accessible to those with reasonable mobility, with good handrails and paths. Please wear comfortable footwear suitable for walking. Some areas of the cave can be wet and slippery. The Waitomo Glowworm Cave does not have wheelchair access however, Ruakuri Cave is wheelchair friendly.

Please note:  The Waitomo Glowworm Cave Visitor Centre is a cashless site. We strongly advise booking your tour online, and make sure you bring a contactless method of payment (credit card, apple pay etc) for the gift shop and cafe. 

Yes, pre-booking is essential to avoid missing out, especially over the summer months. Plus it's easy; just select your preferred date and time, and pre-pay for your tickets online.

Waitomo Glowworm Cave tours depart from 39 Waitomo Village Rd. Check-in at least 30 minutes prior to tour departure. If you are late or miss your departure time, your ticket (s) are forfeited and non-refundable.

Allow 45 minutes for the tour. If you have extra time, enjoy a coffee and a snack at the cafe and make sure you check out the gift shop!

There are 23 people or under on each boat tour.

Personal flotation devices are mandatory for those under 5's. We have a range of sizes and styles to suit, which will be provided at the start of the tour. *if an infant is in a secure front pack and remains in the front pack for the duration of the tour, they are not required to wear a personal floatation device.

The Glowworm cave will only be affected if we have a heavy amount of rainfall over a period of time.

Photography and video are not permitted inside the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, but is allowed in Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave.

16-17 ºC year round

All you will need are comfortable walking shoes with a non-slip grip and a warm jacket.

No, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is a cashless site. Make sure you book your tickets online, or bring a contactless method of payment (credit card, apple pay etc).

Under 4-year-olds go free, but they must be booked to secure a place on tour.

No, children over the age of 14 will need to be booked as an adult. Proof of age may be required.

Helpful tips

Here's a few useful links to help with planning your trip to Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Best things to do in the North Island
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• Other Islands
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Our glowworm display is spellbinding and incomparable

Float beneath a galaxy of Glowworms in a small group

Spellbound Glowworms are easily seen on cave ceiling

The Cave of the Spirit

Ancient Moa bones

Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tours

334 Boddies Road Te Kuiti , Waitomo Caves , New Zealand .

Raft gently beneath Waitomo’s largest and most impressive glowworm display. In a small group of 12 or fewer you are guaranteed an unhurried and relaxed experience. Photography is welcome in these exceptional caves. Suitable for visitors of all ages.

Pricing and Conditions

Commission rate is offered on application, escorts/interpreters may come for free.

Cancellation may occur during flooding, full refunds may be given. Cancellation by clients will result in 20% cancellation fee.

Our first priority is to take you in a small group so we can personalize your experience, our next is to give you the best possible opportunity to see and appreciate everything these exceptional caves offer. A close look at glowworms is a great way to start the tour, our guides can explain and show you everything. Giving you lots of time with the lights out, your eyes will fully adjust to the many thousands of small lights above, then an unhurried boat ride beneath them will simply amaze you. Short walks and warm refreshments are a great way to appreciate the beautiful surrounding above the caves and lastly a visit to the Cave of the Spirit is a really wonderful way to picture Waitomo’s treasure trove of ancient mysteries and stories.

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The content on this page was created by Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tours

This website helps visitors connect with providers of great New Zealand tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets certain quality standards or legal obligations. Please contact this business for more information. See also: newzealand.com terms of use (opens in new window) .

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Spellbound – Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours

Waitomo glowworm tourist attractions , waitomo glowworm cave tours.

Waitomo – Visit the Spellbound Glowworm Caves to enjoy Waitomo’s biggest and brightest glowworm show. Experience two wonderful caves softly lit by 30,000 glowworms in the Mangawhitiakau cave system, 12km south of Waitomo.

Drift slowly through the first cave where you will be rewarded with the soft glow of many of thousands of glowworms, enough to gently light up an entire cave.  Walk through Cave of the Spirit, a lovely succession of chambers to find speleothems, fossil remains of extinct moa and cathedrals filled with natural light, softly falling to the floor.

You will have, 1 guide, 2 caves to visit and up to 12 people. Lots of time is taken so you can truly enjoy one of nature’s greatest light spectacles. 

Spellbound Essential Glowworm Tour

One cave  tour to see the Glowworms up close then Drift slowly through our glowworm cave by raft on flat water where you will be rewarded with enough glowworms  to gently light up the  entire cave

Spellbound – Glowworm & Cave Excursion

Note – This is the same as our explorer option, but with pickup and return from the Waitomo Village

In the first cave, see glowworms close up to discover their real identities. Then board a raft to experience a spellbinding drift down the mysterious cave river. Sit beneath the closest, densest and most sweeping glowworm display you could wish for. Our second cave is approached via a scenic gorge path retracing a lost river. At the cave we turn on soft lighting and introduce you to the ancient world of the Cave of the Spirit. Be prepared to be surprised by this cave.

• Our tour visits 2 different caves, the first is a cave with a boat ride, and the second is a walk-through cave.
• We take you on an inflatable raft to view glowworms – there are no rapids in the cave, it’s very gentle and serene.
• Our caves are presented very naturally, we’ve modified them as little as possible and they are located on a very beautiful, backcountry farm. You will encounter few other visitors – if any at all. Our tour is worth doing just for the drive out there!
• Tours are suitable for people of all ages and average fitness. Our scenic walks are short and optional. Please let our guide know at check in if you have any fitness concerns.
• The tour takes place in the outdoors and cave temperatures are cool even in summer (10°C/50°F) 
• We stay dry – the tour does not involve using a wet suit or abseiling or river rapids, it’s very easy
• You are welcome to bring your camera to snap some memories.
• Hot drinks and biscuits are provided. Toilets are also provided.
• We travel to private caves in certified transit van with seat belts commentary is given along the way.
• During times of flooding the raft may not operate for safety reasons.

Tour Itinerary

• We drive to the caves via very scenic backcountry roads and farm tracks with commentary along the way. (20 minutes each way)
• You arrive at private caves situated on a sheep and cattle farm, then walk among limestone rock outcrops before descending into a gorge to meet a picturesque stream.
• Get ready to go underground ( for 45-55 minutes).The Spellbound Glowworm cave is almost totally adorned with glowworms. We walk through half of it and float through the other half on flat water using an inflatable raft. We keep our lights very dim or off as much as possible to give you the best possible glowworm experience.
• By now you have been with us for 1.5 hours. We stop for toilets and refreshments (tea, coffee or hot chocolate and biscuits)
• After tea and coffee, it’s time to walk along a dry gorge to the Cave of the Spirit. This cave has stalactites and stalagmites, fossils and tomo. We spend 40 – 45 minutes here, then drive back to Waitomo Village.
• The tour Itinerary sometimes changes – we may visit the caves in opposite order or avoid walks between caves in heavy rain. If you don’t feel comfortable doing all the walks you will be able to ride in the van as an alternative.

Spellbound Cave Explorer

Our Most Popular Tour

2 cave tour starting at our new visitor centre (334 Boddies Rd. Oparure, Te Kuiti) – Take a 5 minute ride, then 5 minute walk in the Waitomo countryside to visit our Glowworm Cave. The highlight is boat ride with spectacular glowworms.Then continue , walking through an ancient river gorge to Te Ana o te Atua , the cave of the Spirit. Inside , be impressed by its limestone formations, fossils and spectacular views to the sky through tomo( sinkholes) also includes tea/coffee refreshment stop between the 2 cave visits.

This option includes the Essential tour,  plus Spirit cave,  plus refreshments.

Booking ahead is recommended because we can be very quiet or very busy!!

Private & Exclusive Photography Tour

Over the last 2 years we have had  lead many groups for private exclusive photo tours. This  is a more affordable way to do a photography tour. Join in with a few others (maximum 6 people). You must have a tripod and a camera, with equipment suitable to use in low light. You also need to be familiar with the functions of your particular camera too achieve this –  A typical Glowworm shot would be  30 seconds f4, Iso 6400 , depending how much extra reflections you like in your picture.  You must bring spare batteries and memory cards as there is nothing available at the site. You also must feel confident focusing your camera in very low light conditions. Your guide will be able to recommend the best places to setup, and  assist if necessary.

Bring a warm top or jacket, walking shoes (trainers) and your camera. If you have any questions about visiting our caves, please contact us for more information. We do like to know about any fitness issues or injuries which may affect you during your tour, then we can give you a good indication if our tour will be suitable for you

Email: [email protected]             Visit our Website:   www.glowworm.co.nz/

    Return to Things to do in Waitomo

Booking for Spellbound – Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours

Location & Hours

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6 Waitomo Caves Road

Waitomo Caves

Waikato 3943

New Zealand

Serving Waikato Area

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Business Owner

Our tours are friendly, informative and fun. With no more than 12 people on board, raft beneath many thousands of fabulous glowworms to see them at their very best. We visit private caves away from the regular, more commercial tours. Our caves are on a beautiful hill country farm and your guide is also your host, so expect a really enjoyable and memorable tour of our two magical caves. …

Recommended Reviews

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• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

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Overall rating

First, a word about our guide, Norm. He gave the best tour experience we've experienced at any park in the US, Canada, or New Zealand that we've attended. No matter what your background or interest was, he was able to provide informative commentary to satisfy the technical, the scientific, and casual visitor. He was very engaging, warm, and friendly. Without a doubt, the best tour guide we've had anywhere. As to the caves themselves, they were breathtaking. We hiked a beautiful path down to the caves. Once at the caves, we walked a path where Norm guided us each step of the way. Unlike other experiences, we were able to take photography at appropriate moments. We rode on a raft into the depths of the cave, turned about a few times slowly, then returned back. We enjoyed hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and cookies/biscuits before moving on to the second cave. The second cave had some magnificent formations and "skylights" to the surface above. A number of folks were concerned at the start, however, the entire trip we remained dry and comfortable. The only time we got even remotely wet was when moisture dripped off of the ceiling in one of the caves. Go here with confidence. Tell your family and friends. These folks and their caves are fantastic!

Can not recommend this company highly enough, especially our guide, Zane. The glory of the glow worms is not overstated. Absolutely get yourself to Waitomo. Spellbound takes small tours, we were two of seven, two from España, three from Deutschland. Zane is a naturalist, a chemist, a patriot and a storyteller/entertainer. Part van tour, part boat, part walking. If you miss a tour from Zane, you've truly missed out on an unforgettable experience.

There's a reason that they have such high ratings on tripadvisor - they're great. They have private access to a set of caves in the area that's owned by a local farmer, so there are not hoards of people, and you get a very personal experience. Each group is 12 people and one guide, so you get to ask as many questions as you like. They were very accommodating with us - a small child, and an avid photographer. The tour has a 20 minute drive out to the caves, then a short cave walk with only a few glowworms, then a short break for tea and cookies, then a spectacular cave tour with lots and lots of glowworms. I think was made it really spectacular was the small size of the group and the fact that during the boat ride, it was completely quiet and completely dark - no photos are allowed so there won't be any lit up screens, camera flashes, or shutter sounds. It really is surreal to glide through the water in a dark tunnel, illuminated only by the millions of glowworms. An amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone.

I read about the Spellbound tour in the Lonely Planet traveler guide. It sounded smaller and more intimate with better glow worm viewing than some of the larger tour companies. I called a day ahead of time, because I was planning to bring a 3-year-old and a newborn. They assured me that both would be safe and it would not impede the experience of other tour guests. Traveling with aforementioned children, we ended up arriving 15 minutes late for our scheduled tour. I figured we'd missed it and hoped we'd be able to get in on a tour later in the day. However, much to my pleasant surprise, they arranged for a second van at the same time, and my party and another guest went about 30 minutes later as the second group in that time slot. Our guide was Pete and he was exceedingly helpful and knowledgeable about the area, the caves and the worms. I was feeling very awkward about causing any disruption or delay to the group, but Pete was reassuring and the group was very laid back about the whole thing. We went into two caves for viewing. The first was "dry" with walkways through the cave. This cave had less glow worms, due to the climate conditions in the cave, but my 3-year-old loved it because Pete pointed out some old bones of animals that had died in the cave and he was fascinated by the bones. After the first cave, we took a morning tea break in the meadow between the two caves. We had the option of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, milk and some cookies. After the break, we went into the second cave. Here, we wore hard hats with head lamps. There was a larger creek running into this cave and it was here that we both walked and rode in an inflatable raft. I was nervous about the boat part, but my 3-year-old was quite safe (loved it!) and I was able to get in and out with reasonable ease while wearing the newborn in a baby carrier. The second cave had a long passage with an incredible amount of glow worms. It was unbelievably beautiful and it felt like we were drifting down a river in the Milky Way. The raft moved very, very slowly and as a parent with 2 little ones on board, I felt we were all quite safe. One thing that I was glad about was the ability to take photographs in both caves. I did not have a sophisticated enough camera (or tripod) for snapping shots in the large glow worm passage, but I suspect that if I had wanted to give it a try, Pete would have let me (after we were done with the viewing). I think I did hear him mention that they do photography group tours (but I'm not positive about this). Overall, I was highly impressed by the staff of the company, our tour guide and the amazing experience that we shared with them. They were more than accommodating for our small children needs and I would recommend this group to anyone traveling with smaller children or travelers that want a more intimate glow worm cave experience. It should be noted that this is not an "adventure" glow worm tour (no black water rafting or abseiling) and if that is what you are searching for, it would be best to seek out a different tour operator.

See all photos from Rachel B. for Spellbound

Breathtaking tour to see glow worm caves with Spellbound! Small group of only ten people when we did the tour and our guide (young lady with short hair) was awesome and very funny!! Most importantly, we saw thousands of glow worms. The experience was spectacular! This is a must if you are on the north island. I highly recommend Spellbound for the great service and the intimate group size.

Hands down, EXCELLENT tour! Our guide was fabulous, really helped us EXPERIENCE these caves and the glow worms, not just see them. The excitement and enthusiasm of the staff for this area resonates with the guests and we felt completed welcomed, true Kiwi style! The caves themselves are indeed amazing, but SPELLBOUND exceeded my expectations by a million! Thank you Spellbound!!!!!

The Waitomo caves are well worth the travel down from Auckland - the glowworms make for a spectacular experience you aren't likely to forget any time soon. While there are a number of tour operators in Waitomo offering access to the main tourist caves through to the adventurous "black water rafting", SpellBound's speciality is small groups with exclusive access to their own private caves. This makes for a very personal experience where you can enjoy the sights of the glowworm caves without the big crowd hassles. We were lucky enough to be the only people on our tour, so we had a one on one tour from our guide, Mungu. A local, he has a wealth of knowledge about the local peoples, histories of the caves and the local geography, and has an amazing ability to make the information he shares simple to understand. If you want to enjoy the caves, get off the beaten track and check these guys out. We'll be back again, and when we do, we'll be taking another 'SpellBound' adventure!

A fascinating experience- I really liked the small group size and the guide was wonderful.

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Activities - Waikato New Zealand

Our glowworm display is spellbinding and incomparable! Be spellbound by our kind and personal service, knowledgeable guides, and very impressive glowworm display. We know the only way to really enjoy Waitomo’s biggest and brightest glowworm show, is slowly.

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Waitomo Caves

Waitomo Caves is a quiet little village in the Northern King County. It’s surrounded by hillsides of green grass and native forests, all fairly typical at first glance, though anything but typical when you begin to explore more carefully. Our region is riddled with caves, gorges and rivers that unexpectedly disappear underground. Glowworms inhabit the 200 or more caves known in the area and also forests and stream banks. Waitomo is a glowworm paradise and glowworms are the main attraction drawing visitors to our village.

In 2005, Waitomo became the focus of two BBC film crews, one for the Sir David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth series and the other, for the Planet Earth – ‘Caves’ documentary. Glowworms were the subject both crews wished to capture as never before. After checking their options they requested permission to film in the Spellbound Glowworm Cave. Consequently Spellbound’s glowworm display is featured in documentaries placing it among some of the most wonderous caves in the world.

To take an in depth look at our fascinating region, spend some time here and go beyond the beat of the average day tripper. This is not hard to do. Intriguing back roads and beautifully built walkways lead you into unexpected corners everywhere. Everything is explained in the Waitomo Discovery Centre. There’s a great range of accommodation and good food in Waitomo and for the most memorable glowworm experience available, we have wonderful guides to take you underground with Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tours.

New Zealand Glowworm (Arachnocampa luminosa) are closely related to Australian glowworms which have very similar appearance and behaviour. New Zealand glowworms are larger and have bigger lights. They seem to also thrive in much larger colonies. On a Spellbound glowworm tour in New Zealand, you will not only find out more about these fascinating and almost magical little creatures, but you will view them up close in their natural habitat. We will be able to show you all their life cycle stages and explain the adaptations they use to live in a cave.

New Zealand glowworms live all over New Zealand; they’re found in forest settings, often on damp overhanging stream banks and very commonly in caves which seem to give the glowworms the best habitat of all.

The “worm” you see on the ceiling of the Spellbound Glowworm Cave is the larval or maggot stage of a fungus gnat fly. The adult fly looks a little like a mosquito, you may see one in the cave but it is so non-descript you might hardly notice it. Cave life is so good for glowworms they usually complete their entire life cycle within the cave.

Glowworm light is made from a biochemical reaction called bioluminescence which takes place at the terminal end of the renal glands or malphigian tubules of the larval glowworm. Energy to make the light is sourced from an energy rich protein, ATP which is manufactured there. Glowworms produce ‘cold’ light, a pure light with almost no associated heat.

Glowworms can turn off their lights. They may do this when there is too much bright light (from the sun or a torch) or to ‘hide’ if disturbed. Sudden loud noises often make them glow brighter. Glowworm larva lying in a silk hammock. Sticky silk threads hang from ceiling nearby.

Tour duration is 3 ¼ hours. Group size is small – up to 12 people.

Our tour visits 2 different caves, the first is a cave with a boat ride, and the second is a walk-through cave. We take you on an inflatable raft to view glowworms – there are no rapids in the cave, it’s very gentle and serene. The caves are presented very naturally, we’ve modified them as little as possible and they are located on a very beautiful, backcountry farm. You will encounter few other visitors – if any at all. Our tour is worth doing just for the drive out there!

Tours are suitable for people of all ages and average fitness. Our scenic walks are short and optional. Please let our guide know at check in if you have any fitness concerns. We stay dry – the tour does not involve using a wet suit or abseiling or river rapids, it’s very easy. The tour takes place in the outdoors and cave temperatures are cool even in summer (10°C/50°F) so we do recommend bringing a jacket and comfortable walking shoes.

You are welcome to bring your camera to snap some memories. Hot drinks and biscuits are provided, and there are toilets available.

We drive out to private caves on scenic country roads, and commentary is given along the way. During times of flooding the raft may not operate for safety reasons.

• Adults NZD$75
• Children (in family groups) 0-14 years NZD$26
• Children (school trips etc) NZD$42
• A group discount is available for groups of 9 or more adults, please enquire.
• Spellbound customers qualify for ½ price entry to the Waitomo Discovery Centre.
• Follow the link to read our full price list and policy

"Definitely the best!!” 5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 September 2015 My first visit to New Zealand and I really want to see Glowworm Cave. Did lots of research and found Spellbound Glowworm Cave Tours. I did compare with other Glowworm Cave in Waitomo I did not want to join a coach bus tour or I am not too adventure to do tubing. Spellbound was an excellent chose take you 2 caves and my tour guide Norman (which we both share the same name) was very detail and lots of information about everything inside the cave. We even have a short bring after first cave with some coffee and cookies. I was with a 12 people group which I think the best with small group tour. You will have some walking to do but very easy walk and I enjoy every moment!! The tour I join was 11am tour I stay in Auckland wake up early in the morning catch a coach bus by Intercity to Waitomo Township. Make sure email them in advance that you bus might arrive at 11am. At the end of my tour I schedule a pick with a company Waitomo Shuttle Operate by Otorohanga Taxi Bill and Irene (Bill was very nice and friendly) take you to Otorohanga Station. From Otorohanga Station you can take the Northern Explorer Kiwi Rail back to Auckland. I highly recommend anyone with this tour if you planning to do a day trip spend longer hour with Glowworm Cave. Visited September 2015 - HKMD808

“Brilliant! Great value!” 5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 September 2015 NEW Very well organised with small groups. Our guide was amazing and a current caver, who actually created one of the tours with his mates into one of two caves we went into. The gentle raft ride through the tunnels showed the amazing glowworms. Visited September 2015 - HelenL

“Glow worms” 5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 September 2015 Book it. Do it. It was really relaxed and breathtaking. Our guide was fantastic and funny. Kept the whole thing entertaining. Thanks for the experience! Visited September 2015 -JarrodO

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Waitomo Caves , Tours

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Spellbound makes booking your journey into the caves simple. Explore the options below, visit the booking website, or browse our cave and tour options to become part of our world at Waitomo.

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This Spellbound Tour involves rafting on a regular raft (not in an inner tube) through the breathtaking Mangawhitikau cave system. It is less touristy than the more popular tours of the main Waitomo Glowworm Cave and you can take photos in this cave. Spellbound even operate a longer version of the tour specifically for photographers taking time exposure photos with a tripod.

It is one of the cheaper ways to see the glowworms, but it’s not as much fun as more expensive adventure-focused trips.

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There are 3 comments from Foursquare

Small group lead by a local. Especially floatting on the river in the dark with just the glow worms above is fascinating.

Private kind of tour to two unique exclusive caves only accessed by spellbound. No hoards of tourists.

Glowworm and cave tour, no bus loads of tourists & great local knowledge. Off the beaten track but no less spectacular