Small-group tour from Auckland · Auckland CBD pickup
A 9-hour small-group day trip from central Auckland to Spellbound, a privately run cave site near Waitomo: a glowworm cave you drift through by boat, then Te Ana o Te Atua, the cave of the spirit. Pick it for an unhurried look at the glowworms with your camera out, and a van instead of a coach.
This tour does not enter the Discover Waitomo show caves. It goes to Spellbound, a separate, privately run cave site on Boddies Road near Te Kuiti, about 15 km from Waitomo village per Spellbound. The listing includes a fully guided 180-minute experience of two caves: a glowworm cave, where you glide by boat under the lights, and Te Ana o Te Atua, the cave of the spirit, with its stalactites and stalagmites. Spellbound calls the first one the Mangawhitikau cave and mentions fossils in the second.
The day runs about 9 hours. A driver-guide collects you in central Auckland (the listing gives 20 hotel pickup points) in an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water, light snacks, tea and coffee are included. Lunch is a stop in Otorohanga at your own cost; meals are not part of the price. Then it is back up to Auckland for the drop-off. Start times change by date, so check availability on the booking page to see them.
Photos are allowed. The listing tells you to bring a camera, and Spellbound's own site welcomes them, tripods aside. Walking is gentle: up to 40 minutes at a time on easy paths, with no climbing, crawling or stairs inside the caves, though you step about 40 cm up into the van and the raft. Our tip: switch your phone to night mode before the boat moves off. Guests say the cave guides show the group how to set it up.
Your driver-guide collects you from a central Auckland hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Commentary on the drive down; guests mention a coffee stop on the way.
Your guide explains the glowworms, then the boat drifts slowly under the lights as your eyes adjust to the dark.
The cave of the spirit: stalactites, stalagmites and the history of the land, on foot.
A stop in Otorohanga for lunch, at your own cost.
The drive north and drop-off in central Auckland.
★★★★★Highly recommend this trip. The Glow worms are truly mesmerising. Our guide Matt shared so much information on the way to Spellbound. Our glow worm guide was lovely and had a great sense of humour. He was so helpful and showed the group how to set up our phones to ensure we would all get the best photos and videos in the caves.
★★★★★Brilliant day. Wayne, our driver was prompt and gave plenty of information during our drive to the caves. We had a stop on the way for breakfast/coffee [...] Or guide at the caves was brilliant, explained all about the history of the land and the caves themselves. The glow worms were incredible. Brilliant trip.
★★★★★OMG what a fantastic trip. Our guide Aaron was very informative, friendly & pleasant about everything. Our guide through the caves was great. He was fun & made it very enjoyable. The car was comfortable with plenty of room inside. [...]
Read next:
No. Spellbound is a separate, privately run cave site near Te Kuiti, about 15 km from Waitomo village per Spellbound. This tour visits its glowworm cave by boat and Te Ana o Te Atua, not the Discover Waitomo show caves.
Yes. The listing asks you to bring a camera and Spellbound welcomes photography; tripods are not allowed in the caves.
No. Bottled water, light snacks, tea and coffee are included; lunch is a stop in Otorohanga at your own cost.
About 9 hours with pickup and drop-off in central Auckland, including a guided 180-minute cave experience. Check availability for start times; you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
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Smaller private glowworm caves with a boat ride, on a small-group day from Auckland.
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