Kawiti Caves
Kawiti Caves
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Tours & experiences
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  • MSedensky
    1 contribution
    Go! You’ll love it
    Absolutely worth it! Lovely guide, great cave and amazing glow worms. The almost LED-like glow worms form a vision of the Milky Way and the caves are enchanting. Worth every penny. Went with kids and adults and all loved it!
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 16 December 2022
  • Fionna J
    Huntsville, Canada22 contributions
    Worth a visit.
    The guide was very informative about the history of the cave and her familial ties to the area. The younger kids grew a little tired of "the lesson" but we were all impressed with the glow worms. We were encouraged to take the Bush walk while waiting for our tour and we are so glad we did. It was beautiful and the moss covered rock formations made me wish I was a professional photographer. Don't miss it.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 January 2023
  • Northland Bus Charters
    Whangarei, New Zealand1 contribution
    Awesome Day with Keisha at Kawiti Glow worm Caves
    This truly is an adventure! Kiesha you are absolutely amazing, your wit and humor, your stories of your Whanau and Whenua were so funny, interesting and captivating. Keisha I cannot thank you enough for your patience and understanding of my Mother's difficulties, assisting her and making her feel comfortable. She has come home feeling like she conquered Mt Everest! Thank you also to the group we were with, beautiful People. Kiesha you are an absolute Gem, an interesting, knowledgeable bubbly character that grasped everyone's attention.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 18 January 2023
  • AndHomeAgain
    Half Moon Bay, California22 contributions
    This is a really special experience!
    My tour of the Kawiti Glowworm Caves was a dream come true. I came here on my last day in New Zealand and ended up getting a private tour with Ruki. He was so generous, sharing his knowledge of the glowworms themselves, the geology of the area, Māori customs and history, and his own experience growing up in the area. The glowworms are spectacular! It took my eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. At first I didn't see anything, but by the end of the tour it was like looking at the Milky Way. This is a really special experience!
    Visited February 2023
    Written 7 February 2023
  • nickss1
    Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom4,566 contributions
    An excellent tour of cave
    This is an interesting spot off the beaten track. The tour seems to be run by a family business; running each hour. A female guide was excellent; checking us in for the 2.30pm tour, and leading it herself. Photos are not permitted inside the cave. The glow worms are very impressive. I would definitely recommend this tour
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 13 March 2023
  • DiscerningDoyenne
    Melbourne, Australia76 contributions
    A relaxed, intimate glowworm/cave viewing experience
    About a week prior we had visited all three Waitomo Caves and therefore seen lots of glowworms, significant cave structures, and beautiful limestone formations. By comparison, the limestone formations in this cave and the cave itself are less dramatic, but the experience of viewing the glowworms here was longer in duration and more intimate. There were a lot of glowworms spread over a number of different cave “areas“ and we were able to stop and look at them, talk about them, experience what it was like to be in the cave with no light other than the illumination from the glowworms themselves, and to stop and see the reflection of the glowworms in the creek/river running through the cave. To be fair, myself and my husband were the only two people on the tour and it wasn’t until the last few minutes that a second small group entered the cave. By comparison, at Waitomo, large groups of 20+ were being taken through the glowworm cave about every 10 minutes and at one point I struggled to hear the guide because of the noise coming from the group ahead of and behind us. I still think that Waitomo is worth visiting because the caves and the limestone formations are so beautiful, but the experience of viewing glowworms in particular was more intimate and relaxed here, and therefore offered a more “up close and personal” experience to that at Waitomo. I think therefore, that viewing glowworms at this location is a must on any travel itinerary. Don’t be put off by the dirt road, potholes on the drive in, the ticket office being in a portable room, the toilets being up the hill behind the Māori meeting place; this is a family/community run business and while it doesn’t have the slickness of Waitomo – no cafe, no souvenir shop – it’s personal and intimate, and delightful as a result. Finally – don’t forget to take a look at the large meteorite on your way out!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 April 2023
  • lexmiller
    Burlington, Massachusetts1,155 contributions
    Great experience
    We visited the Kawiti Glowworm Caves as a shore excursion that we booked through Celebrity Cruises on our stop in the Bay of Islands. We are so glad that we did! Amazing experience! The business is a small family-ish run operation, an intimate experience. In fact when you first pull up from the road, you're like, uh, what?, because it is not glitzy or commercial in the least - very authentic and lovingly run. Your guide gives you lots of background on the history of the discovery of the cave as well as the life cycle of glowworms, essentially everything you need to inform your visit and help to make it quite wonderful. The glowworms are quite spectacular! You move through the cave in an organized manner in stages, stopping along the way at designated spots and turning all of the flashlights off to allow your eyes to get used to absolute darkness so that the glow worms come into focus. It's all very safe and run smoothly and comfortably. We even learned the name of one of the eels in the river who apparently is roughly 80 yrs old! Definitely recommend.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 30 May 2023
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4.5
466 reviews
Excellent
343
Very good
96
Average
15
Poor
7
Terrible
5

lexmiller
Burlington, MA1,155 contributions
Apr 2023
We visited the Kawiti Glowworm Caves as a shore excursion that we booked through Celebrity Cruises on our stop in the Bay of Islands. We are so glad that we did! Amazing experience! The business is a small family-ish run operation, an intimate experience. In fact when you first pull up from the road, you're like, uh, what?, because it is not glitzy or commercial in the least - very authentic and lovingly run. Your guide gives you lots of background on the history of the discovery of the cave as well as the life cycle of glowworms, essentially everything you need to inform your visit and help to make it quite wonderful. The glowworms are quite spectacular! You move through the cave in an organized manner in stages, stopping along the way at designated spots and turning all of the flashlights off to allow your eyes to get used to absolute darkness so that the glow worms come into focus. It's all very safe and run smoothly and comfortably. We even learned the name of one of the eels in the river who apparently is roughly 80 yrs old! Definitely recommend.
Written 30 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DiscerningDoyenne
Melbourne, Australia76 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
About a week prior we had visited all three Waitomo Caves and therefore seen lots of glowworms, significant cave structures, and beautiful limestone formations. By comparison, the limestone formations in this cave and the cave itself are less dramatic, but the experience of viewing the glowworms here was longer in duration and more intimate. There were a lot of glowworms spread over a number of different cave “areas“ and we were able to stop and look at them, talk about them, experience what it was like to be in the cave with no light other than the illumination from the glowworms themselves, and to stop and see the reflection of the glowworms in the creek/river running through the cave. To be fair, myself and my husband were the only two people on the tour and it wasn’t until the last few minutes that a second small group entered the cave. By comparison, at Waitomo, large groups of 20+ were being taken through the glowworm cave about every 10 minutes and at one point I struggled to hear the guide because of the noise coming from the group ahead of and behind us. I still think that Waitomo is worth visiting because the caves and the limestone formations are so beautiful, but the experience of viewing glowworms in particular was more intimate and relaxed here, and therefore offered a more “up close and personal” experience to that at Waitomo. I think therefore, that viewing glowworms at this location is a must on any travel itinerary. Don’t be put off by the dirt road, potholes on the drive in, the ticket office being in a portable room, the toilets being up the hill behind the Māori meeting place; this is a family/community run business and while it doesn’t have the slickness of Waitomo – no cafe, no souvenir shop – it’s personal and intimate, and delightful as a result. Finally – don’t forget to take a look at the large meteorite on your way out!
Written 25 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nickss1
Southend-on-Sea, UK4,566 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
This is an interesting spot off the beaten track. The tour seems to be run by a family business; running each hour. A female guide was excellent; checking us in for the 2.30pm tour, and leading it herself. Photos are not permitted inside the cave. The glow worms are very impressive. I would definitely recommend this tour
Written 14 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephanie M
Bonn, Germany14 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
As hobby photographers, we like to take photographs at visited places. There are, of course, reasons for prohibiting photography, e.g. in the case of sensitive works of art that can be damaged by lightning or in the case of certain animals. But here the justification is only that it is private property. Even if we were to publish good pictures online, which we don't intend to do at all, it would be good publicity. Too bad! One could also offer special photo tours so as not to disturb other visitors during normal tours.
Unfortunately, we left without taking part in a tour because we found the ban arbitrary.
Written 6 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AndHomeAgain
Half Moon Bay, CA22 contributions
Feb 2023
My tour of the Kawiti Glowworm Caves was a dream come true. I came here on my last day in New Zealand and ended up getting a private tour with Ruki. He was so generous, sharing his knowledge of the glowworms themselves, the geology of the area, Māori customs and history, and his own experience growing up in the area.

The glowworms are spectacular! It took my eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the dark. At first I didn't see anything, but by the end of the tour it was like looking at the Milky Way.

This is a really special experience!
Written 7 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Northland Bus Charters
Whangarei, New Zealand1 contribution
Jan 2023
This truly is an adventure!
Kiesha you are absolutely amazing, your wit and humor, your stories of your Whanau and Whenua were so funny, interesting and captivating.
Keisha I cannot thank you enough for your patience and understanding of my Mother's difficulties, assisting her and making her feel comfortable.
She has come home feeling like she conquered Mt Everest!
Thank you also to the group we were with, beautiful People.
Kiesha you are an absolute Gem, an interesting, knowledgeable bubbly character that grasped everyone's attention.
Written 18 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fionna J
Huntsville, Canada22 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
The guide was very informative about the history of the cave and her familial ties to the area. The younger kids grew a little tired of "the lesson" but we were all impressed with the glow worms.
We were encouraged to take the Bush walk while waiting for our tour and we are so glad we did. It was beautiful and the moss covered rock formations made me wish I was a professional photographer. Don't miss it.
Written 11 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James R
1 contribution
Dec 2022
This place takes block bookings from tour operators in summer, for example from the cruise ships which stop at Paihia. Which means that if you turn up, as we did, you'll be turned away if they are expecting block bookings that day. So why didn't we book? We tried, some weeks in advance, and were told that our party of 8 was too small to do a booking but just to turn up and they'd let us in. But they didn't. Basically, they want you to go and they'll take your money if there's space but send you away if they are expecting cruise ship coaches. Which they won't tell you on the phone. And, no, the website doesn't allow independent travellers to book.
Written 31 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MSedensky
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Family
Absolutely worth it! Lovely guide, great cave and amazing glow worms. The almost LED-like glow worms form a vision of the Milky Way and the caves are enchanting. Worth every penny. Went with kids and adults and all loved it!
Written 17 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NigelWneat
8 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
This is a mind wowing experience - knowledgeable guides, incredible can't describe seeing the glow worms and learning about them. It's worth the effort, and in beautiful surrounds.
Written 23 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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KAWITI CAVES: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Kawiti Caves