Float the river under the glowworms

About this experience

This trip goes into Ruakuri Cave, the same cave as the walking tour, but by its river. It starts at the black water rafting base at 585 Waitomo Caves Road, a short distance outside the village and home of the Long Black Café. The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. has welcomed guests since 1989, per Discover Waitomo, which runs it. Groups are capped at 12, per the listing, and one guest counted 3 guides for 12.

Allow about 3 hours. You get your wetsuit, boots, helmet and light, practice jumping into the water with your tube, then ride the van to the cave. You enter through a hole in the rock, and from there it is wading, climbing a little and jumping off small waterfalls. The part guests talk about most comes next: you lie back in the tube and float the underground river with glowworms filling the vaulted ceiling. The exit is a stream through a canyon, a last waterfall and a rock slide, then the forest.

Included: the 3-hour tubing trip, guides, all equipment and hot showers, with snacks afterwards per the listing. Bring swimwear and a towel. Cameras and GoPros are not allowed for safety reasons, but the guides take photos you can buy after the trip. You need to be 12 or older and weigh at least 45 kg (Discover Waitomo sets the maximum at 130 kg). You don't need to swim, but you should be comfortable in water. A friendly tip: pack warm clothes for after; the water is cold, and a hot shower and dry layers feel wonderful.

• Among the highest rated Waitomo trips: 4.9 from 1,870 reviews
• Float an underground river on a tube under the glowworms
• Small waterfall jumps in Ruakuri Cave
• Wetsuit, boots, helmet and light provided
• Hot showers and snacks afterwards
• Up to 12 guests per trip, per the listing

How the day runs

1. 30 min beforeCheck in

   Arrive at 585 Waitomo Caves Road and check in. Change into swimwear.

2. Kit upWetsuit and helmet

   Your guides fit you with a wetsuit, boots, a helmet with a light and your tube.

3. PracticeThe tube jump

   Before the cave, practice jumping into the water with your tube, then ride the van to the entrance.

4. UndergroundWaterfalls and wading

   Enter through a hole in the rock, wade, climb a little and jump off small waterfalls.

5. The floatUnder the glowworms

   Lie back in your tube and float the underground river with glowworms above you.

6. AfterHot showers

   Out through a canyon into the forest, back to the base for a hot shower, snacks and the photo package.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Bring swimwear and a towel. The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. supplies the wetsuit, socks, boots, helmet, light and tube, and it sells towels in its shop if you forget yours.
• Pack shower gel, shampoo and warm clothes. The base has hot showers and changing rooms, and lockers for your things.
• Check the fitness guidelines on Discover Waitomo before booking: you must step up 50 cm and climb a ladder unaided in a wetsuit.
• Leave the GoPro at home. The guides take photos underground, and you can buy them after.
• Start times change with the date and the season. The listing asks you to check availability to see the starting times, so pick your day first and the time slots appear.

Read next:

• Which cave is best?
• Photos and what to wear

Frequently asked questions

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