Spellbound
Spellbound
5
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About
Our tours are friendly, informative and fun. With no more than 12 people on board, raft beneath many thousands of fabulous glowworms to see them at their very best. We visit private caves away from the regular, more commercial tours. Our caves are on a beautiful hill country farm and your guide is also your host, so expect a really enjoyable and memorable tour of our two magical caves.
Te Kuiti, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
1,825 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
130
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22
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Annette Roberts Wilde
Newcastle, Australia135 contributions
Jan 2020
I have visited many caves around the world and this would have to rank up there as one of the best experiences I’ve had. My husband Tom and I did this tour yesterday - 19th January 2020 and our remarkably knowledgeable and professional guide Mieke made this 3 hour caving experience truly outstanding. It was a small group tour of 12 of us and we visited 2 caves. After a 20 minute country drive we arrived at cave 1 - the glow worms where we were so close to the roof of the cave as well as the sides. We saw the worms and their fine threads to catch insects. We had morning tea followed by Another short drive to cave 2 where we saw limestone formations rock pools skeletons of trapped animals(2) - very interesting and I would highly recommend doing this tour if you want an up close small group informative tour
Written 11 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,
as much as a cave is visited, on a guided tour your leader can make or break the experience.
Were pleased you enjoyed Mieke as a tour guide, she is at University so is a holiday job, she is also a speleologist / competent caver.
The view of glowworms up close is totally different to the view of their lights!
Written 27 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FullyNZ
Fox Glacier, New Zealand342 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
Highly highly recommend choosing Spellbound for your Waitomo Caves experience. The product offering is a knockout.
The meeting point is a small office building a few km up a gravel road, not far from Te Kuiti. Loads of parking available. We met our guide for the afternoon Mangu who was friendly and chatty right from the onset. Spellbound limit their tours to 12 which made for a really nice experience rather than the mass groups of people hurled through with some other companies.
We hoped into a van for the 5-10min trip across stunning farmland to the first Cave, Te Ana o te Atua, cave of the spirits. This is a stunningly beautiful cave, and we were lead by Mangu a lot further into the cave then I thought we would go. Mangu stopped frequently to explain the formations and make up of the Cave, and was patient and knowledgeable with any questions people had. The path way is extremely accessible, concreted and well formed. That good I reckon you would get a wheelchair down there haha.
Mangu didnt rush us through either, but let us take our time, savoring the experience. You run out of adjectives for this cave, it is really that good.
Back in the sunlight, we walked back to a small Picnic area where when we arrived, Mangu had Hot Drinks and Biscuits for us. Mangu was entertaining with his story's of the history of the area, and his own upbringing in the area.
Refreshments over, it was time for some glow worms. We got a hard hat with a torch light on it, and led into another epic cave. Within no time we were seated on a little boat floating under tapestry of glow worms. Think the pictures on the website look good? No false advertising here. It really is that good. Again there was no rush, Mangu allowed us time to let out eyes adjust to the darkness, and savor the magic of our surroundings. It is truly a special place in the cave, with a million little glow worms making you look up in awe.
$65 bucks for a trip scheduled for 2.5hrs is nothing. Extremely good value for money, and a excellent way to spend a afternoon. Mangu was the only staff member we met, but he was excellent, and a real asset to Spellbound. I will be directing every one I meet heading to Waitomo to opt for these guys.
Take my word for it, you will not regret booking a morning or afternoon with the team at Spellbound.
My photos are crap, and just dont do it justice. Bonus being Spellbound email you some professional photos so you can share with friends and whanau.
Keep up the good work team.
The meeting point is a small office building a few km up a gravel road, not far from Te Kuiti. Loads of parking available. We met our guide for the afternoon Mangu who was friendly and chatty right from the onset. Spellbound limit their tours to 12 which made for a really nice experience rather than the mass groups of people hurled through with some other companies.
We hoped into a van for the 5-10min trip across stunning farmland to the first Cave, Te Ana o te Atua, cave of the spirits. This is a stunningly beautiful cave, and we were lead by Mangu a lot further into the cave then I thought we would go. Mangu stopped frequently to explain the formations and make up of the Cave, and was patient and knowledgeable with any questions people had. The path way is extremely accessible, concreted and well formed. That good I reckon you would get a wheelchair down there haha.
Mangu didnt rush us through either, but let us take our time, savoring the experience. You run out of adjectives for this cave, it is really that good.
Back in the sunlight, we walked back to a small Picnic area where when we arrived, Mangu had Hot Drinks and Biscuits for us. Mangu was entertaining with his story's of the history of the area, and his own upbringing in the area.
Refreshments over, it was time for some glow worms. We got a hard hat with a torch light on it, and led into another epic cave. Within no time we were seated on a little boat floating under tapestry of glow worms. Think the pictures on the website look good? No false advertising here. It really is that good. Again there was no rush, Mangu allowed us time to let out eyes adjust to the darkness, and savor the magic of our surroundings. It is truly a special place in the cave, with a million little glow worms making you look up in awe.
$65 bucks for a trip scheduled for 2.5hrs is nothing. Extremely good value for money, and a excellent way to spend a afternoon. Mangu was the only staff member we met, but he was excellent, and a real asset to Spellbound. I will be directing every one I meet heading to Waitomo to opt for these guys.
Take my word for it, you will not regret booking a morning or afternoon with the team at Spellbound.
My photos are crap, and just dont do it justice. Bonus being Spellbound email you some professional photos so you can share with friends and whanau.
Keep up the good work team.
Written 9 July 2021
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.
Kerryn M
North Wonthaggi, Australia14 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Visited the Spellbound Glowworm Caves with our fabulous tour guide “Hop” Hohepa Kiore today. He was brilliant. And very informative. Took in two caves, one dry and one wet. First for us was the dry cave where the easy walk in and out takes about 15-20 min each way. That’s at slow pace. Hop explained about the stalactite and stalagmite formations. Plus other formations made from the limestone that have taken thousands of years to create. Also you get to see sink holes where you see sunlight filtering from a hole in the roof of the cave or if it’s big enough you can see the sky above. A big bonus of this cave is a close up view of a young, long extinct Moa skeleton, discovered in fairly recent times. But don’t be disappointed if you are wondering where all the glow worms are. There are very few here but this cave is a wonderful warm up for the wet cave that is nearby. Here you’ll be inundated with billions of the glow worms. Once your eyes adjust to the darkness the cave comes alive with how much light the glow worms emit. Being a wet cave we walked only a short distance into the cave before hopping aboard a boat, that our tour guide pulled along by ropes. Here you meander down the cave in quiet amazement of what we are seeing above us. As we near the end of the route a waterfall can be heard. We go back and forth a few times where we are refrained from taking pictures at first, so we can truly take in the experience. At the last pass we can take as many photos as we care to. Not bad considering many guided tours disallow own photography. Plus they email you professionally taken pictures of the caves as a keepsake too. I’d highly recommend this tour. It is well worth the near 3 hours it takes. The price is beyond reasonable. You even get a cuppa and biscuits between caves! It is truly a well run family business. Just don’t forget to take a coverup as it can get quite cool down there. Be mindful that even in mid February I could have easily done with a light jacket.
Written 18 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 for your review, often our glowworm cave is viewed first, which means its a downhill walk.....
The pictures sent are stock pics already taken, we dont have the complexity to do on site pics for everyone, but will give those with a good camera the opportunity to do so as you know.....
your story of the pics off the raft may have been a one off as this is discouraged, it being better to see this without other light pollution........
Written 17 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
traveller#01
London, UK195 contributions
Nov 2019
We took a detour to Waitomo Caves for a day trip, arriving across from Rotorua before heading back South-East towards Turangi. Having read the reviews, I was excited to go with Spellbound.
We were initially taken via minibus on a 20min drive out to a unique cave which they had what seemed exclusive rights to. They take better care of their caves than one of the main bigger companies in Waitomo which was definitely a positive and did lead to a more enjoyable and exclusive experience.
On arriving we were given our headlamps and walked through the cave, witnessing a few glowworms as our eyes adjusted. A few minutes later we boarded a small boat and headed up and down the water in the cave, witnessing the glowworms above us. Whilst it was a stunning sight, it was quite disappointing that all we did was quietly ride up and down the cave in the exact same direction 2 or 3 times before getting off, meaning it did get quite repetitive after a while. We were also told at the start of the tour to give our email address to be sent photos. With nobody taking any whilst there I wondered what these would be, later to find out these were the same ones on their website, with their logo on and no pictures of the glowworms in the cave without other people in it... useless photos for me.
We had an enjoyable short coffee break with some tasty biscuits which we later bought more of on our trip, before moving on to another cave which displayed impressive limestone formations and a few glowworms. We were given some interesting facts along the way and I actually enjoyed this second cave more, partly because my expectations of the first were so high and by no means met.
For a high price, I would expect a little more from the experience. Its difficult to take any proper photographs inside as you are given about 1 minute to take them and understandably light is not allowed, meaning the focus light on my SLR rendered it unusable. As a result I would expect something better arranged by the company to allow you to capture the memories a bit better.
We didn't regret going but just expected a little more from the company
We were initially taken via minibus on a 20min drive out to a unique cave which they had what seemed exclusive rights to. They take better care of their caves than one of the main bigger companies in Waitomo which was definitely a positive and did lead to a more enjoyable and exclusive experience.
On arriving we were given our headlamps and walked through the cave, witnessing a few glowworms as our eyes adjusted. A few minutes later we boarded a small boat and headed up and down the water in the cave, witnessing the glowworms above us. Whilst it was a stunning sight, it was quite disappointing that all we did was quietly ride up and down the cave in the exact same direction 2 or 3 times before getting off, meaning it did get quite repetitive after a while. We were also told at the start of the tour to give our email address to be sent photos. With nobody taking any whilst there I wondered what these would be, later to find out these were the same ones on their website, with their logo on and no pictures of the glowworms in the cave without other people in it... useless photos for me.
We had an enjoyable short coffee break with some tasty biscuits which we later bought more of on our trip, before moving on to another cave which displayed impressive limestone formations and a few glowworms. We were given some interesting facts along the way and I actually enjoyed this second cave more, partly because my expectations of the first were so high and by no means met.
For a high price, I would expect a little more from the experience. Its difficult to take any proper photographs inside as you are given about 1 minute to take them and understandably light is not allowed, meaning the focus light on my SLR rendered it unusable. As a result I would expect something better arranged by the company to allow you to capture the memories a bit better.
We didn't regret going but just expected a little more from the company
Written 5 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.
Glowworm photography is too tricky to do in one minute. It can require hours of time, so we do offer some free photographs. It is important that we explain to guests that our free photos are only of the glowworms and not personal ones, we do this at check in, I'm sorry there has been a misunderstanding this time and that you were disappointed.
It's true we travel up and down the same stretch of water 2 to 3 times.Over this time your eyes adapt to darkness and you see more and more glowworms, you also see more of the cave walls, glowworm reflections in the water and you see each other. It's all about the visual experience. You would possibly have enjoyed more of a sense of a journey through a cave, our cave makes this impossible I'm afraid, we must retrace our footsteps as there is just one entrance for humans. The advantage of one entrance is the cave stays moist and conditions are perfect for glowworms to thrive in. Our second cave has many entrances and fewer glowworms.
The question of value for money is a very personal matter. We feel we are priced at a similar level to many 3 hour excursions involving small groups and transport. We do offer exclusive access to an exceptional glowworm cave. We can only strive to keep improving our communication with guests to ensure they know what our tour includes.
Written 11 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maisy V
Chester, UK9 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This whole experience is just magical. We had so much fun and especially enjoyed the boat raft under the glow worms and our warm hot choco and biscuits. Special shout out to Norm who has a great sense of humour and made us laugh so much throughout the trip!!! Sounds like we made a great decision choosing to go with Spellbound - we were in a small group away from the crowds of people and the effort they put into making sure everyone had a great time was second to none, highly recommend!!
Written 19 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,
sounds like the number of glowworms you saw exceeded your expectations, if you ever see a tour with as many, please let us know!
Written 6 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Darryn
Auckland Central, New Zealand9 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
We visited these caves as a family with two kids (9 & 10). We all loved it. Mangu was our guide and he was brilliant. Full of good info, great stories and a good sense of humour. We were lucky to only have six of us on the tour as the small groups and relaxed nature of these tours was one of the reasons for us choosing Spellbound. The caves did not disappoint, the glow worms put on a good show that we got to enjoy for a long time and the limestone formations were spectacular. Not as big and flashy as some other caves and this is what made it good. I’ve seen glow worms plenty of times before but never up that close and having them explained to us, the way they work, habitat, life cycle etc is what made it really interesting, way better than just glowing dots on the roof of a cave as you pass by. For anyone wanting a relaxed, informative and personal experience in Waitomo caves I would definitely recommend Spellbound.
Written 9 August 2021
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.
JaneHK
6 contributions
Jan 2020
We opted for this trip versus the many others on offer as it was pitched as a small group experience. As a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens (12 and 14)) our guide Zane was knowledgable, entertaining, engaging and interactive with all members of the group. Zane kept the attention of our entire family for the duration of the 3.5 hour experience, which is no mean feat with 2 teens! The entire experience was positively awe-inspiring - from the ethereal glow worm caves and their magical light to the wonders of the limestone caves. An amazing experience for people of all ages - one not to be missed!
Written 16 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,
Keeping teenagers who perhaps would have preferred an adventure tour is always a challenge!
in these times of human induced climate change it is worth remembering that for eons, tiny organisms have taken CO2 out of the ocean and deposited their skeletons or precipitated out and onto the seabed as calcium carbonate, the soluble rock which makes up the worlds limestone caves - Karst landscapes
Written 27 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SandraandChris
Burgess Hill, UK57 contributions
Feb 2020
Visited glowworm caves on our trip to New Zealand,our driver/guide Hop was brilliant , really explained everything and made sure we were all having a good time. Both the walk through trip and the raft trip were great and it was great to have a stop for a drink and biscuits.Special thanks to Hop as after the trip he then explained a route for us to get toour next stop at Rotarua which saved us a great deal of time
Written 21 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,
obviously, our tour is mostly about viewing understanding and enjoying the New Zealand Glowworms,
were pleased you enjoyed.
Written 6 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SJD54514
Glasgow, UK8 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We had a wonderful 3 hour tour with our guide Hop into a beautiful and quite remote area to the 2 caves we visited . Hop was so knowledgeable and helpful, and kept everyone safe and well looked after. We were quite a mixed group but the tea break stop between caves meant that we all got chatting - and felt that we were on an adventure together! This tour was the complete opposite of the touristy experience I was expecting and I would highly recommend it.
Written 13 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,
when you were expecting 'Touristy' it would have been the Waitomo Glowworm Cave, which , over the years has suffered from its popularity.
We also have alot more glowworms to see for longer
Written 6 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kevin
2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Worth every penny!
My family and I (Kevin, Willow, Lewis and Chantelle) were thoroughly impressed and amazed by the tour and the glowworms. Hop (our tour guide) was funny, informative, polite and very knowledgeable. Hop made the effort to ask for everybody's name, and made us feel safe and comfortable. He answered all our questions and was just wonderful!
The boat tour was magical and the caves were amazing. We enjoyed a complimentary tea/coffee/hot chocolate and biscuits during an interval from cave to cave.
Highly recommend.
My family and I (Kevin, Willow, Lewis and Chantelle) were thoroughly impressed and amazed by the tour and the glowworms. Hop (our tour guide) was funny, informative, polite and very knowledgeable. Hop made the effort to ask for everybody's name, and made us feel safe and comfortable. He answered all our questions and was just wonderful!
The boat tour was magical and the caves were amazing. We enjoyed a complimentary tea/coffee/hot chocolate and biscuits during an interval from cave to cave.
Highly recommend.
Written 11 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 ,
our guides do not get asked to work to the limit of say their driving logbook, so they can stay fresh with 2 or 3 days off per week.
Written 6 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daydream_kitty
Singapore, Singapore
Hi, I've booked the slots via the website for early Feb 2024. May i know where is the nearest parking for spellbound caves as I'm unable to locate the exact drop point on Google maps.
Thanks in advance :)
Written 8 December 2023
There is a parking lot at the meeting place. from there you ride in a mini van to the actual caves
Written 8 December 2023
Hi, for the private tour do you see both caves or just the boat ride?
Also, is the cave that has the walkway wheel chair accessible?
Written 26 February 2021
I´ll come from Auckland on October 5, is it necessary to book in advance?
Written 17 August 2019
Libby027
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Hi Paula...
right now Sat 5 October is quiet,
Best to book in to avoid the time you would like!
Regards
Libby
Written 19 August 2019
Hi, can I know what is the difference between photography tour and normal tour? My husband and I are limited by the schedule of the photography tour but would really love to take some nice pictures of the glowworms with tripod. We are unsure if the normal tour would allow us to do that. Also, are both caves glowworm caves? Pls advise Thanks!
Written 6 March 2019
If you contact Peter at 0800773552 and arrange with him to have time to set up a camera and take some closeups of the glow worms then there’s more likelihood of you getting it done. He has his routine so you wd need to ask if he could let you do that on one of his tours. He’s a great guy and has probably already had people ask to do this so ask snd see what he can do for you.
Written 6 March 2019
How much walking is needed for this tour? My kids have very short attention span so i ask just wondering whether it could hold their attention for the entire 3 hours. Thanks a lot.
Written 10 June 2018
Libby027
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Hello, I think your question has been well answered by everyone below, I can just add that most 3 year old children cope very well, if your child does get anxious about being in the dark they might not enjoy this, we're in darkness for about half an hour. You will probably need to carry them at times in the caves but you are welcome to stay in the van to avoid the walks. You will see what to do when you are there. We should warn you that we do not have child proof fencing near the water so holding on to your child at all times is important.
Written 10 June 2018
I am planning to have a trip with my husband and 3.5 year old daughter on April 2nd.
I have a back problem though I can walk for around 2 km at a stretch. Wanted to check :
1) how long is longest walk- and also difficulty?
2) Is this cave less dark compared to Waitomo cave? I am asking this considering kid might get scared in complete darkness.
3) Can I get a wheel chair there in case i get pain during walking?
4) do you charge for kids less than 4 years?
Do you think this tour will suit us (more than waitomo or ruakuri cave) considering my back and our 3.5 year old daughter?
Thanks
Written 20 March 2018
Hi, I've not actually been into Waitomo having seen the coach loads pull up and seen the speed of the tours we decided against it. Also we'd been given the heads up by a naturalist who gave glowing reports of the nature and beauty if Spellbound so that was a good enough recommendation for us. What I can do is tell you what I remember of Spellbound in practical terms.
You are driven by minibus to almost the cave entrance. Where you walk for about 1-2 minutes to get to the small boat platform, one step down into a small boat which is then pulled along a cable as you are mesmerised by the glow worms.
The guide always has a flashlight if there are any problems in the darkness and all the helmets have head lamps. In the dry cave, the walkway is lit and flat and easy walking for about 1/2 km but hard to judge as you stop to look at interesting things along the way lights are turned off to show any glow worms to their best effect and theres nothing scary about it just beauty.
From my experience and what I've seen, you will get more personal treatment at Spellbound and only be with a small group of about 10. The guides are not as rushed and clearly love what they do being passionate about their caves rather than just racking up numbers. If you ring/email them they will certainly answer your questions and now the tourism is dying down somewhat, you may be able to find out what time the quietest tour is so that you can have an even more confidence in the cave.
I have a bad back, told me I'd be in a wheelchair by 40 but Im now 61 and managed just fine, its a slow amble rather than a trek. If you have one of the walking stick seats that fold so can rest if you think you might need it?
What I would say is that I wouldn't have missed this for the world and think that if you have explained to your daughter about glow worms, she will be fascinated too and enjoy the adventure with joy and excitement rather than fear. Hope this helps?
The restaurant opposite the Spellbound ticket office is awesome too!
Written 20 March 2018
Does Spellbound have arrangements with a shuttle or bus service from Rotoura to the Waitomo Village General Store?
We arrive on a ship for the day.
Written 14 March 2018
We had our own driver and van from Auckland. Your best bet is to contact the tour operator directly.
Written 14 March 2018
I want to know if this tour picks you up in Rotorua or do you have to make those arrangements yourself?
Written 14 March 2018
I drive myself, I’m sorry I can’t answer that.
Written 19 March 2018
maettlefrommherz
Herrischried, Germany
Kann man die Tour mit einem Kleinkind mit 1.5 Jahren machen
Written 11 February 2018
Libby027
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Hello, Infants can join the tour, we can fit your car seat into our minibus , or you can use ours. Your infant will need to be with you in the dark with the glowworms for the raft ride on flat water.
Cost is the same as a child.
regards
Written 11 February 2018
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