A boat ride under the glowworms

About this experience

This tour enters the Waitomo Glowworm Cave, the cave the whole area is named for. It starts at the visitor center at 39 Waitomo Village Road, in the village itself, so no extra driving is needed once you arrive in Waitomo. Discover Waitomo runs it daily, and its booking page says pre-booking is essential. The story goes back to December 1887, when Tane Tinorau, a local Māori, and the surveyor Fred Mace floated in on a raft where the Waitomo Stream goes underground and found the grotto, per Wikipedia. By 1889 Tane Tinorau and his wife Huti were guiding visitors for a fee. In 1989 the land and cave were returned to their descendants, many of whom work at the caves today.

The tour runs in two halves and lasts about 45 minutes. First you walk. The upper level is dry, with formations called the Catacombs, the Pipe Organ and the Banquet Chamber, and then you go down into the Cathedral, the largest chamber, 40 m long and 13 m high per Wikipedia, with acoustics that singers and choirs have performed in. Some guides sing a few notes here. Then you step into a boat, the lights go down, and the guide pulls it along an overhead wire through the Glowworm Grotto. Nobody talks. Thousands of blue-green points cover the ceiling and show again in the dark water. Each boat carries 23 people or fewer, per Discover Waitomo.

Included: the entry ticket, the 45-minute guided tour and a local guide. Photos and video are not allowed inside this cave, and cameras and GoPros stay outside; souvenir photos are on sale after the tour. Paths and handrails are good, but there is no wheelchair access. Inside it is 16 to 17°C all year. A friendly tip: if you want your own glowworm photos too, pair this cave with Ruakuri Cave, a short drive away, where cameras are welcome in selected areas.

• The most booked Waitomo tour, from 5,922 reviews
• A silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto
• The Cathedral and its acoustics, on foot
• The upper level: the Catacombs, the Pipe Organ, the Banquet Chamber
• Local guides, many descended from the cave's first guides
• In the village at 39 Waitomo Village Road

How the day runs

1. BeforeBook a time slot

   Discover Waitomo says pre-booking is essential, above all in summer. Pick your date, then a time.

2. 30 min beforeCheck in

   Check in at the visitor center at 39 Waitomo Village Road. Under-5s get a life jacket for the boat.

3. On footThe upper level

   Your guide walks you past the Catacombs, the Pipe Organ and the Banquet Chamber, with the cave's history on the way.

4. The Cathedral40 m of echo

   Down into the largest chamber, known for its acoustics. Some guides sing a few notes here.

5. The boatThe Glowworm Grotto

   Board the boat in the dark and glide in silence under thousands of glowworm lights.

6. AfterCafé and photos

   Back in daylight, the café, the shop and the souvenir photos wait at the visitor center.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Check in 30 minutes before your tour. Discover Waitomo says late arrivals forfeit their tickets, and the next slot has to be bought again, subject to availability.
• Wear shoes with a non-slip grip and bring a warm jacket. Some parts of the cave are wet, and it stays at 16 to 17°C.
• Leave the camera in the car. Photos and video are not allowed inside; the souvenir photo is your keepsake.
• Rain is rarely a problem: Discover Waitomo says only heavy rain over a long period affects the tour.
• The Discover Waitomo visitor centers are cashless. Bring a card or phone payment for the café and the shop.

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Frequently asked questions

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