The Waitomo Experience · Tumu Tumu Station, Boddies Road
Okohua is a private glowworm cave on Tumu Tumu Station, a farm 10 minutes from Waitomo village, and The Waitomo Experience is the only operator with access to it. Pick it for a real caving trip in a group of six: tubes under the glowworms, your photos taken for you and a cedar hot tub at the end.
The base is at 754 Boddies Road, on the private Tumu Tumu Station, 10 minutes from Waitomo village per the listing. You get fitted with a wetsuit, boots, a helmet and a tube, then follow your guide across limestone farmland, often between paddocks of sheep, to the cave entrance. Underground you walk, wade, swim and climb along an underground river, past blue pools of spring water and formations, and float on your tube (black water rafting) under thousands of glowworms. When the water level is right there is a natural rock slide. The rock jump is optional.
The whole trip takes 3.5 hours, with 2 to 3 hours underground and a snack halfway through. You come out into native bush, walk back to the base and finish in a cedar hot tub that looks over the forest. Hot showers and Wi-Fi wait at the base. Photos and videos are included, so you can keep your hands free. Start times change by date, so check availability on the booking page to see them.
Bring swimwear, a towel and socks. The listing asks for moderate fitness and sets limits: 12 and over, with a caregiver aged 18 or older on the trip, 45 to 118 kg, and not suitable over 70 (anyone over 67 is asked to message the operator first). If you are scared of water, the operator says plainly this trip is not for you. Our tip: book early. The listing marks it as likely to sell out, and six places go fast.
Meet at the base at 754 Boddies Road and get fitted with a wetsuit, boots, helmet and tube.
Walk with your guide over limestone farmland, past paddocks of sheep, to the cave entrance.
Follow the underground river through passages and caverns, with a snack halfway through.
Lie back on your tube and drift beneath the lights; slide or jump where the water allows.
Come out into native bush and walk back to the base.
Soak in the cedar hot tub over the forest, then a hot shower.
★★★★★Awesome tour! Our guide Sam was great, guided us professionally through this real caving experience and told us fascinating facts about the Glowworms and formations in the cave.
★★★★★I absolutely loved this experience. Getting to explore these caves was magical and Christina was an amazing guide! She helped us through the whole thing, made us all feel included, and took a bunch of photos for us.
★★★★★An absolute once in a lifetime experience! Christina our guide was outstanding [...] enthusiastic and good fun whilst being highly knowledgable and competent. We felt totally safe in her capable hands and she was able to tailor the experience to our individual abilities and preferences. [...]
★★★★★exceptional experience [...] probably the highlight of our trip to NZ [...] Thanks, Kristina, for guiding us that effortlessly, safe and calm through the cave!
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On Tumu Tumu Station, a private farm about 10 minutes from Waitomo village. The tour base is at 754 Boddies Road, Waitomo Caves.
Yes. You walk, wade, swim and float on tubes; wetsuits, boots, helmets and tubes are provided. Bring swimwear, a towel and socks.
Yes. Photos and videos are part of the tour, per the listing, and guests say the guides take them along the way.
12 and over with a caregiver aged 18 or older, 45 to 118 kg and moderate fitness. It is not suitable for people over 70, and the listing asks anyone over 67 to message the operator first.
Ready to book
Six guests, tubes under the glowworms in a private cave, a cedar hot tub after.
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