Private and Luxury
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$189
per adult
Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo
Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo
Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo
5
Caverns & CavesWalking ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife ToursPhotography Tours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Previous know as "Glowing Adventures" Our awesome Waitomo adventure is tucked away “off the beaten track” on our family farm and we LOVE it that way and so do our guests. Away from the tourist crowds - You can explore magical glow worm displays in their purest form and at your own pace on our 3-hour guided tours of small groups. With no foot paths or any lighting, this is a genuine natural eco experience. Private Tour - Just like standard eco-tour, but for your private group - just you, your friends, and your guide. Photography Tour - Private photography tours for 2-4 people. Take your time and photograph some of New Zealand's finest scenery. Photography equipment welcome. NOTE: All tours not suitable for anyone with mobility issues as the tour involves walking through streams and over rocks. A reasonable level of fitness is required
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo
Private and Luxury
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$899
per group
Photography Tours
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$899
per group
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
1,372 reviews
Excellent
1,331
Very good
39
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
amysnichols
1 contribution
Nov 2019 • Family
A small group tour with our guide Heath was made custom for our capabilities and speed. It was an absolutely fantastic experience for the whole family, filled with rich tradition and educational tidbits. You could tell he loves what he's doing and that can go along way with customer service. We are so incredibly happy with our time there and it's worth every penny. Thank you!
Written 9 January 2020
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.
Thank you for taking the time to review us Amy. Our guide Heath was lucky enough to grow up here in the old farm house just around the corner. He remembers his dad taking him and his brothers into the cave when he was around 5 years old! Thank you for visit we hope you enjoyed the rest of you NZ travels, take care.
Written 9 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christine G
1 contribution
Jan 2020
I loved our tour! The private property is so beautiful. They gave us all the clothing we needed including socks, and provide a shower if you want it. This is so nice, as we didn't have to worry about getting our own clothing scrapped up, wet, and muddy. They provide clear instructions on everything, and what to do and not do. Heath was an amazing tour guide, and kept things interesting, he has jokes for days lol. Everyone there is so nice!
Just make sure you get there at least 15 minutes in advance as they start right on time. We almost didn't make the tour in time as there was unforeseen construction, along the highway coming down from Auckland. We were projected to get there 30 mins prior, but the construction delayed us for about 25 mins. They will allow you to go on the next tour provided there is one, depending on the time of day.
At the end they provide cookies and tea/coffee. We loved the entire experience. But if you are a bit out of shape, just know it may be challenging. My husband had it a bit rough lol, he was exhausted by the end of it (he does almost no physical activity lol). I was fine though! :) There are also some tight squeezes so if you are claustrophobic it may be a concern for you.
Thank you Glowing Adventures! :D
Just make sure you get there at least 15 minutes in advance as they start right on time. We almost didn't make the tour in time as there was unforeseen construction, along the highway coming down from Auckland. We were projected to get there 30 mins prior, but the construction delayed us for about 25 mins. They will allow you to go on the next tour provided there is one, depending on the time of day.
At the end they provide cookies and tea/coffee. We loved the entire experience. But if you are a bit out of shape, just know it may be challenging. My husband had it a bit rough lol, he was exhausted by the end of it (he does almost no physical activity lol). I was fine though! :) There are also some tight squeezes so if you are claustrophobic it may be a concern for you.
Thank you Glowing Adventures! :D
Written 22 January 2020
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.
It’s easy to be friendly when we have such awesome customers like yourself Christine! It’s our pleasure to share a bit of good old Kiwi hospitality. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review for us. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels around New Zealand.
Written 9 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kyla G
Whitehorse, Canada1 contribution
Mar 2020
This was an excellent tour, with very small groups, a local guide with a historic family connection to the caves. Our guide was personable, knowledgable, and took excellent photos. If you are looking for an intimate experience, where you don't feel crowded or rushed, this is an ideal tour of the caves.
Written 18 March 2020
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.
Thanks for your review Kyla. It’s great for customers to have so many choices when visiting Waitomo. There’s something to suit everyone! We work hard to keep our glow worm cave tours as close to nature as possible and to give our guests just the right amount of adventure :)
Written 18 April 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
koolkimbo
London, UK1 contribution
Jan 2020
This was one of the best activities I have ever done! It was so much FUN!!! The walk through the farm and forest before and after the caving was truly beautiful, and the caving itself was incredible. We had so much fun climbing and exploring we totally forgot we were on a glow worm experience, that was until we saw them in their thousands!! There was so many opportunities to enjoy their glow and see them up close. It was like a thousand fairy lights - the glow worms were seriously magical!! One of the most beautiful sights you will ever see. Our guide was brilliant, so informative and relaxed, he took some great photos of us throughout the experience, which you wouldn’t get from your own camera so that was a bonus and was so encouraging when caving through the nooks and crannies! All the staff were so friendly! This is a total, one off experience of a life time! You’ve gotta do it! :)
Written 5 February 2020
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.
Thanks, we’re so glad you enjoyed your up close encounter with our special glow worms. We’ve been careful not to modify our caves with electric lights or anything else that would disturb them. It keeps it really authentic for our guests too. We hope you enjoyed your email with the complimentary personal photos of your experience :-)
Written 9 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Limas1612
Lenzburg, Switzerland6 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
We were the first time in New Zealand and have read much about the Glowworm Caves in Waitomo. At first we decided to go on a Tube Adventure through the caves with the most-visited and only tour on Tubes. After reading through many reviews we weren't not anymore sure, that the Tube Adventure really would be a remembering adventure because it will be overcrowded. Sadly we couldn't find any other provider with a tube tour through the caves and wanted to book for a tour of 3 for the next day. (Luckily) we couldn't find any time frame for 3.
After some more research we found this nice provider of a guided tour through the caves. This tour didn't take place in Waitomo, but nearby in a cave on private ground. Although he tour wasn't in tubes, it was absolutely amazing and we had for sure more fun than on the tube tour. We have been in a small group of 7 people (max. 8) with an impressive and funny guide and we were almost 3 hours down in the caves with no one else down there, because they are only operating 2 - 3 tours per day. That's why this tour will be a real lasting memory!
After some more research we found this nice provider of a guided tour through the caves. This tour didn't take place in Waitomo, but nearby in a cave on private ground. Although he tour wasn't in tubes, it was absolutely amazing and we had for sure more fun than on the tube tour. We have been in a small group of 7 people (max. 8) with an impressive and funny guide and we were almost 3 hours down in the caves with no one else down there, because they are only operating 2 - 3 tours per day. That's why this tour will be a real lasting memory!
Written 18 January 2020
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.
Thanks for your review. It’s great for customers to have so many choices when visiting Waitomo. There’s something to suit everyone! We work hard to keep our glow worm cave tours as close to nature as possible and to give our guests just the right amount of adventure :)
Written 9 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LightPacker782073
1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Couples
We had a really great time visiting the waitomo caves with Glowing adventures. It's a family business with a warm and personal touch: friendly people who can tell you a lot about their farm and caves. Instead of visiting the caves with a boat you're walking through the caves in a small group, which makes the tour more personal. A few people from the Netherlands are going to visit New Zealand during wintertime, I will highly recommend them to visit Glowing adventures. Thanks Kingi for your guidance and great Maori stories!!
Written 8 January 2020
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.
Thanks for your review. It’s great for customers to have so many choices when visiting Waitomo. There’s something to suit everyone! We work hard to keep our glow worm cave tours as close to nature as possible and to give our guests just the right amount of adventure :)
Written 9 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mandy Coombs
North Petherton, UK1,212 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
From the moment we arrived to when we left, this experience was amazing. Ash was very welcoming, we met the rest of the group (6 of us), watched a safety video then got kitted up in thermals. We walked down to the cave and turned on our headlights ready for the climb down to the glow worms. The route was quite arduous & I would say you have to be relatively fit & agile, although Ash did stop and give us lots of breathing space while admiring the cave, and him giving us lots of info about the rock formations. We did get pretty wet & had wellies full of water on several occasions as the underground river is a bit deeper in places. When we got to the worm cavern & turned out the lights it was just magical. More and more sparkly worms become visible as your eyes adjust to the dark. (The glow worms are actually larvae, not actual worms!), after a photo shoot and plenty of time to enjoy the sparkles we made our way back to the base for a hot drink, biscuits and a hot shower. It wasn’t cold in the cave (maintains approx 14 degrees all year round), but the thermals were just perfect for the job.
I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone who wants a more personal and likes a small group tour. But make sure you are prepared for small spaces & getting wet!
I would definitely recommend this tour for anyone who wants a more personal and likes a small group tour. But make sure you are prepared for small spaces & getting wet!
Written 14 October 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.
Hey Mandy! 🌟
We're over the moon that you had an amazing caving adventure with us. Your kind words warm our hearts!
Ash is truly a superstar, and we're thrilled that you found our safety video helpful. Those underground challenges and sparkly glow worms are all part of the fun, right? 😄 Your recommendation and appreciation for our small-family business mean the world to us. Take care, Michelle and Ash
Written 23 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Iki Abby S
Jakarta, Indonesia22 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
My family and I (eight of us) are very happy. Amazing trip we had with glowing adventures, very professional and friendly service. We highly recommend for those whom visit New Zealand to contact them for a memorable life time experience.
Written 8 January 2020
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.
Thank you for taking the time to review us Abby. As the smallest company in Waitomo we really appreciate it! It is so helpful for future guests to understand the experience we provide :-)
Written 9 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
NNUT11
Layton, UT1 contribution
Feb 2020
We would highly recommend this authentic caving experience to not only see glow worms but also explore an interesting cave. The cave is on a family farm and is run by family members. That made it extra special. It was nice to have clothing and gear provided. Our guide Heath was fun to be with, informative and helped us navigate a few tight spots in the cave. Great memories and one of the highlights of our two week vacation in New Zealand.
Written 25 February 2020
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.
We are so glad that you enjoyed our off the beaten track experience. Sometimes it’s great to get away from the crowds and really explore a place. Thank you for taking the time to review us!
Written 2 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matthewbarnett
1 contribution
Jul 2020
My GF and I came here as part of a wrekend adventure. I think this is a great stepping stone for anyone looking to try something new and exciting with out being scared away from future expeditions. I really appreciate the way the cave has been left for nature and there are no pathways. Would definitely recommend
Written 9 July 2020
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.
Thanks for your review, sometimes we sit back and are just amazed that we have the best job in the world!
Written 31 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
While I’m fit, my upper body strength has suffered from arthritis in my shoulders. I can lift a mountain bike, but lift myself up some rocks with mostly arm strength? Used to. No more. Will this caving require me to clamber over rocks with mostly arm strength?
Written 29 August 2019
Hi, there are no boats and rails with Glowing Adventures! Yes you will be climbing over rocks and squeezing through tight spaces on your back but a fantastic experience. The groups are small, maximim of 6 I think and tour guide will assess your capability and lead through suitable areas - as it is “free” caving as such on private property, there are many different options available to your guide. This was my experience anyway and I couldn’t recommend the experience more highly, loved it.
Written 29 August 2019
Is this tour suitable for 5 nearly 6 year old?
Written 11 December 2018
I think the child needs to be at least 11 or 12. I had asked the guide. Definitely not for little kids. It’s dark and slippery and you need a certain amount of strength to get through the areas.
Written 12 December 2018
I'm a heavy set woman that has done 2 cave hikes in the last 10 years elsewhere. I'm up for the challenge. Wondering if the clothes provided will fit a larger sized body and if the tour is accommodating to someone who might go slower?
Written 9 January 2017
Hi there, we do have a range of sizes available for most people here at Glowing Adventures and have taken a whole range of sized people on our tour.
They main thing is mind set and strength. So there are a few places you need to be able to pull yourself up rocks and though gaps so the tour is not suitable for anyone that has any kind of mobility issues.
Therefore is not really recommended for anyone over 120kg depending on strength. Its hard to judge peoples abilities but you will know your own capabilities :-) Feel free to give us a call for any further information on 07 8787234.
Written 10 January 2017
On a scale of 1-10, how are the glowworm displays here? Is it more of a caving thing with some glow worms, or is the glow worm display pretty spectacular? Trying to decide between a few different options. Thank you.
Written 26 February 2016
Hi there, we have 3x glow worm displays here at Glowing Adventures and they are all quite different.
The first is in a large cavern and they are very high up like the night sky.
The second is very up close and personal, you can see the actually insect and even be challenged to find a whole life cycle, adult fly, pupa and worm including their sticky snares they use to trap their prey.
The last display is the most spectacular of the 3 displays with thousands and thousands of worms covering the cave as seen on the photos on our website, we would rate this 10/10.
The feedback we often get from our customers is we came to see the glow worms and we got that and so much more. ☺ It is a very natural, physical, adventurous tour all done at your own pace to take photos and absorb the beautiful unmodified environment.
Written 26 February 2016
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