This full day tour from Auckland to the Ruakuri cave system at Waitomo is designed to showcase the best of rural New Zealand landscape and enjoy all that the Waitomo area has to offer.
The tour starts with being picked up from your Auckland city accommodation and a drive with expert commentary through the Waikato region of New Zealand with its rich Māori history and stunning farming landscapes.
Join a small group guided tour of the Waitomo Ruakuri cave system. Entry is through a spectacular spiral entrance. This walking tour is New Zealand’s longest guided underground walking tour and gets you up close to the Waitomo glowworms as well as a wide range of limestone stalactite and stalagmite formations. This is one of the only Waitomo cave systems which allows photography throughout the tour and the cave walkway has been designed to allow wheelchairs and pushchairs.
After the cave tour re-join your Bush and Beach guide for some light refreshments and a guided walk around the native forested gorge, natural sculpted cliffs and low limestone arches of the Ruakuri valley walk.
You then take a short drive to the lunch destination at a great locally owned cafe.
After lunch you visit the Kiwi house and native bird park at Otorohanga where you get the chance to see New Zealand’s rare and iconic Kiwi bird. You also learn about what the centre is doing with their Kiwi bird breeding programme to help the endangered birds. There is also an opportunity to have a look at some of the other rare and iconic New Zealand birds and animals that the park has.
A relaxed drive back to Auckland completes the day.
This tour runs at the same time as our Black Water rafting tour so if you are traveling with people who want to do that then we all travel down together and split up for the morning activities and re-join for the lunch and Kiwi bird experience.
“The glowworm caves were stunning and very different to any other group tour experience I have had.” Trip Advisor Review 2018
These prices are valid for up to 8 people. For groups of 9+ please ask for a quote (use the enquiry form on this page)
Child price for ages 2-11
To send an enquiry about availability for this private tour just fill in the form below with the dates and number of people in your group and we’ll get right back to you.
The map is for indicative purposes only.