Waitomo cave prices

How much does the Waitomo Glowworm Caves ticket cost in 2026?

NZ$85 for an adult, NZ$39 for a child and NZ$217 for a family pass, per Discover Waitomo. Children under 4 go free.

Those are the prices on waitomo.com for the classic 45-minute tour: the walk through the upper levels and the Cathedral, then the boat through the Glowworm Grotto. Aranui Cave costs the same for an adult. Ruakuri Cave is more, NZ$122, and it is also the longest of the three, so allow 2 hours.

Black water rafting sits higher again. The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. charges NZ$199 for Black Labyrinth and NZ$332 for Black Abyss, which runs about 5 hours and begins with a 35 m abseil into the cave. The family pass on the rafting is for 2 adults and 2 youth aged 12 to 15.

What does each Waitomo tour cost on this site?

From $47 for the Glowworm Cave boat tour to $265 for Hobbiton and Waitomo from Auckland or Rotorua. The table runs from the lowest from-price to the highest.

The cheapest tickets are the two short show caves. The Glowworm Cave boat tour is $47 and the most booked tour here, with 5,922 reviews. Aranui Cave is $47 for an hour among pink and white formations; it has no glowworms. The Ruakuri Cave walk is $67.

Above that come the adventure caves, from $110 for 3 hours on a tube in Ruakuri up to $183 for Black Abyss. The day trips from Auckland cost the most, because the price carries the whole day: the transport, the Hobbiton Movie Set ticket and a lunch on two of them. For those, the from-price is for the basic option.

What is included in a Waitomo cave ticket?

The entry, a local guide and the tour. Souvenir photos, transport between the caves and anything from the café are extra.

• The Glowworm Cave: entry, the 45-minute guided tour and the boat ride. No cameras or video inside; souvenir photos are for sale after the tour.
• Ruakuri Cave: entry and the 90-minute walk with a guide. You need your own transport to the visitor center on Tumutumu Road, and backpacks stay behind.
• Aranui Cave: entry and a 1-hour walk. You check in at 39 Waitomo Village Road, then drive a few minutes to the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve.
• Black water rafting: the full kit, from wetsuit and boots to helmet, light and tube, plus hot showers. Bring swimwear and a towel; towels are not supplied.

The Glowworm Cave and the black water rafting base are both cashless, so book online and bring a card or phone payment for the café and shop. Pamela, after the boat tour (Nov 2026): “We learned a lot about glo worms, the history of the caves founders and current status. Very comfortable and easy.”

Are there family passes, and do kids go free?

Yes. A family pass covers 2 adults and 2 children, and children under 4 go free on the Glowworm Cave and Ruakuri tours if you book them a place.

On the Glowworm Cave the family pass is NZ$217 and each extra child on it NZ$31. Ruakuri's is NZ$296, with extra children at NZ$44. Anyone over 14 pays the adult price, and Discover Waitomo says proof of age may be asked for. At Aranui the free age is 3 and under, which comes to the same thing.

Small children are welcome on the boat: life jackets are compulsory for under-5s and the guides hand them out at the start. A baby who stays in a secure front pack for the whole tour does not need one. The adventure caves have their own limits, set by age and weight.

The family cave: a spiral ramp down, glowworms you can photograph, and paths wide enough for a pushchair up to 65 cm.

★ 4.7 · 1.5 hours · from $67

Explore the Ruakuri Cave walk → Tour details

Is a Waitomo combo cheaper than two tickets?

Yes. The Most Popular Combo, the Glowworm Cave with Ruakuri, is NZ$179 for an adult against NZ$207 for the two tickets on their own.

Discover Waitomo sells three cave pairs. The deals page gives adult from-prices: NZ$179 for the Glowworm Cave and Ruakuri, NZ$179 for Ruakuri and Aranui (the Top Cave Combo), and NZ$131 for the Glowworm Cave and Aranui (the Twin Cave Combo). The Most Popular Combo is also sold for children at NZ$80 and families at NZ$432. Plan about 2.5 hours for it, with a 5-minute drive between the two caves.

The single-ticket column below is simply the two adult prices added up. If you want the boat ride and photos of glowworms in the same afternoon, the Glowworm Cave plus Ruakuri is the pair to book. For the full comparison of the caves, see which Waitomo cave to choose.

Can you cancel a Waitomo booking, and how early should you book?

Every tour on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before, and every listing lets you reserve now and pay later. Book as soon as your date is set.

Discover Waitomo is clear that a ticket is tied to its time. You check in 30 minutes before the tour, and a late arrival forfeits the ticket. Its FAQ calls pre-booking essential, especially over the summer months, and the Glowworm Cave and Ruakuri listings both carry a likely-to-sell-out flag. For the season itself, see our summer 2026 post.

Our picks for different budgets are below. For opening hours and how the official ticket rules work in more detail, see our tickets and prices guide.

Tammy, on the boat tour (Oct 2026): “Such a great experience seeing so many glow worms lighting up the cave. Magical!”

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