Eleven ways to see Waitomo: three show caves, four adventure caves, three day trips from Auckland or Rotorua and a zipline park. Each has its own page, with which cave it enters and whether photos are allowed.
Discover Waitomo's caves in the village: the Glowworm Cave boat ride, Ruakuri on foot and Aranui's formations.
Most booked45 minutes through the Cathedral, then a silent boat under the Glowworm Grotto. The original Waitomo cave tour.
The cave: The Waitomo Glowworm Cave: a walk through the Cathedral, then a boat under the glowworms
Photos allowedA spiral ramp down into Ruakuri Cave, waterfalls, glowworms up close. Photos allowed, wheelchair accessible.
The cave: Ruakuri Cave: a spiral ramp down, glowworms on foot, wheelchair accessible
FormationsWaitomo's most delicate show cave: an hour on boardwalks among pink and white formations, photos allowed, no glowworms.
The cave: Aranui Cave: stalactites and stalagmites, no glowworms
Wetsuits, tubes and helmets: black water rafting in Ruakuri and small-group caves on private farms.
Black water raftingWetsuit, helmet and tube: 3 hours in Ruakuri Cave, small waterfall jumps and a float under the glowworms.
The cave: Ruakuri Cave on a tube: an underground river under the glowworms
35 m abseilA 35 m abseil into Ruakuri Cave, a flying fox in the dark, tubing under glowworms and waterfall climbs: 5 hours.
The cave: Ruakuri Cave from above: a 35 m abseil, a zipline and tubing
Max 6 guestsA private farm cave for six: walk, wade and tube under the glowworms, guides take the photos, a cedar hot tub after.
The cave: A private farm cave: tubing under glowworms, then a cedar hot tub
Max 8 guestsA private cave on a family farm: 8 guests at most, wading and climbing, about 2 hours underground, phones welcome.
The cave: A wild cave on a family farm: wading, climbing, phones welcome
Hotel pickup, the caves and, on most trips, Hobbiton: 9 to 13 hours on the road and underground.
Top ratedHotel pickup in Auckland, the Hobbiton Movie Set, a café lunch and the Glowworm Cave boat ride, in one 11-hour day.
The cave: The Glowworm Cave boat tour, on a day from Auckland with Hobbiton and lunch
Small groupSmall-group day from Auckland to the private Spellbound caves: a glowworm boat ride, the cave of the spirit, photos allowed.
The cave: The private Spellbound caves, with a boat ride, on a day from Auckland
One way or returnHobbiton, a buffet lunch and the Glowworm Cave boat ride in one day, between Auckland and Rotorua, one way or return.
The cave: Hobbiton and the Waitomo caves, from Auckland or Rotorua, one way or return
Ten ziplines over the limestone country, a short drive from the caves.
Cross-sellTen ziplines above the caves, about 1 km in all, up to the Waitomo lookout and a last 280 m line at up to 80 km/h.
The cave: Above ground: ten ziplines over the limestone country
