Private Glowworm Cave Tours: Experience Untouched New Zealand Scenery in Waitomo District

51 Ratings

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Experience the untouched beauty of New Zealand’s Waitomo district on a private glowworm cave tour. Tailored for your group, explore mesmerizing caves and glow worm displays.

Duration: 3 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo - 1199 Oparure Road, Maungarongapu Cave

What's Included

Shower facilities for after the tour
Local guide
Private tour
Snacks
Complete equipment and clothing provided, including thermal tops, pants, fleece, shorts, gumboots, socks, helmet, and headlamp
Tea, coffee, and a snack after the tour
Tea and coffee

What's Not Included

You must have your own transport to get to 1199 Oparure Road. There is no public transport and we can not pick up or drop off.

Additional Information

Join our informed guide as you traverse stunningly pristine caves in the Waitomo district.
You’ll be part of our
Exclusive Tour, tailored just for your group of 2-8 people, along with a guide. We customize your experience to allow you the leisurely pace needed to explore, appreciate, and soak in the environment - including our captivating glow worm…

Location

1199 Oparure Road

Oparure Road

Please follow signs on Oparure road.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(51 Ratings)

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Michaelw7533

Apr 2, 2026

Slip, Slide and Away through the Glow Worm caves at dusk! - This was a fun and unique experience. Getting all dressed up in their clothes and galoshes and then wading into the tunnels at night was such a treat. Ash was a great guide. He put up with our American humor and helped us navigate through the caves on his families land! I would totally recommend this tour over any where you sit in a boat for 20 minutes. We spent 3+ hours in god's magnificent wonderland, full of glow worms and other critters!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Companion59558696863

Mar 5, 2026

Amazing - So much fun. Ash was both entertaining and accommodating to make sure we had fun and were safe the entire way. The cave were beautiful and the experience is like no other.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Hamishm942

Mar 4, 2026

Unforgettable Experience - Down To Earth was an excellent stop on our tour of showing family and friends around NZ. The tour guide, Ash, made the experience unforgettable with a great dose of kiwi humour and extensive knowledge of the caves to go along with it. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a great experience off the beaten track. Family owned and operated.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Estherrc5109pi

Feb 5, 2026

A visit to the bottom of the Earth - It was a great experience. Always watching over us, the caves very nice. A highly recommended experience.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Bvillebox

Jan 6, 2026

Extraordinary Once in Lifetime Glow Worms - Choose this Glow Worm tour. Unique Hidden Gem. Been on others and this is so Much more, with personal touch, small group.TONS of time in cave - no rush Pics w glow worms no charge. Experienced guide, Ash, knows SO much about the caves and glow worms because he lives there. He’s fun, personable interesting. Beautiful countryside farm and scenery. Lovely short stroll through beautiful woods and hills into and out of caves. Its tops notch with a family touch.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

David_t

Dec 28, 2025

Great time! Exceeded expectations! Was great on all fronts, from the beginning to the end! - It is very hard to imagine that there is any other tour that can match this one! 100% custom to your group’s ability and confidence level. If you are interested in exploring caves, experiencing the glowworms and going on an adventure, this is the tour for you! Well worth the time and money.

Review provided by Viator

Richardstrezo

Dec 18, 2025

Even Better Than the High Expectations We Had Going In! - Without a doubt one of the bestest, funest, most uniquest things we did during our month Down Under (and we crammed lots of terrific things into this trip)! The cave alone with its subterranean features, river, and eels was a spectacular adventure. But wait, there’s more: the Glowworms! Simply extraordinary. Like looking at the night sky on a pitch-black night. And I have to mention Ash, tour guide extraordinaire. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and funny and made sure we had an enjoyable and safe experience. Well worth the drive we made from Auckland for the day.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Janbj3328fn

Nov 22, 2025

Great People and a Great Time - We had a wonderfull time on the tour. Ash is a Great Guide. We did mess up the rebooking and appeared on the wrong day. They were really concerned about us Not turning up. Us showing up on the next day was no Problem what so ever.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Happiness68058088345

Nov 17, 2025

Challenging, exhilarating, fun! - We loved our private cave tour! Unique experience & certainly not like the 'normal' cave tour. Ash was a fantastic guide - fun, competent & encouraging. Loved all the pics he took for us & his personal knowledge of the caves. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Y7358dijosephc

Nov 13, 2025

Unique, amazing experience - Amazing experience. Ash was an awesome guide- knowledgeable, encouraging, interesting and just what the group needed. I would give it six stars if I could!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Check Availability

From $644

(Per Group)

From $644 (Per Group)

up to 8 guests

1 - Traveler