Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Small-Group Off the Beaten Track Tour
Tổng quát
Ngôn ngữ có sẵn
3 giờ 15 phút
Vé di động
Set out on an adventure into our private caves, hidden in the rolling hills of Waitomo — untouched, unspoiled, and alive with glowworms.
This is caving as it was meant to be: immersive, awe-inspiring, and just a little bit magical.
Gear up and follow your guide through native forest before stepping into our secluded cave system. With your headlamp lighting the way, you’ll scramble around giant boulders, wade through shallow streams, and admire ancient limestone formations — all while millions of glowworms light up the walls around you.
Step away from the crowds — our small-group tours offer a truly authentic experience.
Pocket-sized cameras welcome — with plenty of time and space to capture the magic.
Connect with a guide who shares the caves’ secrets and stories, making your journey personal and unforgettable.
Loved by travellers worldwide, with thousands of glowing 5-star reviews.
Thông tin khác
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Not suitable for elderly or those with mobility issues — involves climbing, hills, and wading through streams.
Maximum of 8 people per tour.
Minimum age is 12 years.
Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
A reasonable/good level of fitness is required.
NO large cameras or tripods. Phones or pocket sized cameras are welcome.
Safety First — if flooding means we need to cancel, you’ll receive a full refund.
Not recommended for travelers with a low level of fitness
Chính sách hủy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cần Quan Tâm
You’ll be underground for about 2 hours, with the entire experience lasting around 3 hours. Here’s how it’s broken down: -We’ll start with about 20 minutes of preparation and safety briefing. -Then, a 10-minute walk to the cave entrance. -Enjoy a 10-15 minute stroll through the stunning New Zealand bush and Mangapu gorge—this is your warm-up. -Explore the caves for just over 2 hours, with glowworm displays along the way. -After the cave, we’ll take a 10-minute walk back through the bush to our office/house. -Feel free to take a little extra time to change and enjoy a well-deserved tea or coffee with some delicious cookies.
Bao gồm
Genuine Kiwi hospitality at its best
See the caves just as nature intended
All caving equipment & warm clothing provided
Adventure photos emailed after your tour
Coffee and/or Tea
Guided by a local with deep knowledge & connection
Pick-up and drop-off services
Public transport (not available in this area)
Tùy chọn
Off the Beaten Track Tour
Đánh giá
450 đánh giá
Tổng số đánh giá và xếp hạng từ Viator & TripAdvisor
Awesome tour - just do it!
Tour44991956063,24 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00What a great tour - I highly recommend it. We enjoyed that this was a small (6 of us total), non commercial family run tour. Ash our guide was so entertaining, informative, helpful and kind. It should be noted that this tour required wading through a stream, a bit of ducking, and some bouldering in the cave to get to the glowworms, but that is all part of the fun and Ash was really good in guiding and helping with where to put your foot and hands, There are no paved paths or artificial lights in the cave here, just natural beauty. Ash also took pictures of everyone and they were emailed to us for free. The tour ended with coffee/tea and cookies and a nice chat around the table about life.
Loved it!!
NGHFL,22 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Our family of five had the best experience! Ash was an incredible guide, full of knowledge on the caves and super personable and funny. It was just our group and we loved the personalized attention and we got to ask all our questions. This tour is a bit adventurous which was what we wanted. We felt like cave explorers and these caves were so cool! One of the highlights of our whole trip!
Small Group Glowworm Cave Tour
Camille K,20 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Viator
5.00This is a unique non-commercial experience for those who prefer small groups and a little side of adventure with their slice of nature. No crowds! But you will see glowworms! In fact, I saw the actual larvae and mucus strings just a few feet above me, as well as the larger constellations spread out like stars in a large cavern. But you will also walk through a beautiful verdant canyon, wade into a stream, and explore part of a private cave. My guide, Ash, was knowledgeable and helpful, offering interesting info about the glowworm life-cycle and pointing out unique stalactites and stalagmites. Boots, helmets (with lights), and warmer outerwear are provided. I felt safe but not coddled. It was an exceptional experience!
My Tour Guests raved about this, glad they did it!
YourNZDriver,19 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Ash the guide made my group feel so safe, was patient and reassuring in some of the areas. He explained alot prior to heading out, gave the group a chance to change their mind and not feel pushed. Just a lovely tour operation, felt so comfortable and my group were so happy they did it. Worth the Admission fee.
Love the small group tour
Emily S,18 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Viator
5.00It was a bit more physical than expected but it was fun and adventurous. Ash is an entertaining guide. Gloworms were amazing. We really enjoyed it!
Love the small group personal touch
claremY2223AZ,16 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Ash was fantastic! Went out of his way to ensure we were safe and comfortable in this amazing environment! We learnt so much!!
Incredible Glow Worm Cave Experience
RJTravel925,10 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour, tour guide and incredible experience we would highly recommend to anyone wanting to visit the caves!
Wonderful experience, Ash...
Jona M,4 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Viator
5.00Wonderful experience, Ash is a great guide that managed to make my wife (who suffers from a slight claustrophobia) very comfortable. The caves are really fascinating and there are many magic moments. Greatly recommended if you're looking for a more intimate experience
Unique, fantastic tour
Lisa S,2 thg 3, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Viator
5.00A family-run operation, Down to Earth’s personal touch and small groups make the tour a very special experience. Our guide was fantastic and the caves themselves were beyond what we imagined. A reasonable level of fitness is required to clamber over larger rocks and squeeze through tight spaces.
Intimate yet impressive experience to view the glow worm, and not only :-)
mhpredhom,28 thg 2, 2026
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyable intimate experience, Down to Earth is really what it is. Nice family running it and warm welcome. Definitely recommend this tour rather than big venues.
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Vận hành bởi Down to Earth - Waitomo Eco Cave Tours