675
-
Rotorua & Taupo Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!
Forget the footpaths and escape the crowds. Bring your camera or phone and capture the Waitomo experience you were really looking for — small groups, real caving, underground streams, and glowworms far from the main tourist trail.
Forget the footpaths and escape the crowds. Bring your camera or phone and capture the Waitomo experience you were really looking for — small groups, real caving, underground streams, and glowworms far from the main tourist trail.
Highlights
- Amazing glow worm displays!
- Phone/small cameras welcome
- Only 2-8 people per group
- Away from the crowds
- Just the right amount of adventure
- Authentic eco experience
- Family owned and operated
- #1 Trip Advisor rated tour in the Waitomo District
Do Waitomo Differently.
Looking for something far from the usual tourist stop? This is your chance to step off the beaten track and into a real New Zealand glowworm adventure.
Our 3.5-hour guided cave tour is designed for small groups of just 2–8 people, so it feels personal, relaxed, and far away from the crowds. Your adventure starts at our family farmhouse, where we kit you out with everything you need, clothing, boots, helmet, lights, and all the gear.
From there, we head into native bush, scramble over limestone boulders, wade through a freshwater stream, and make our way into our private cave system. There are no concrete paths, no handrails, and no artificial lighting, just you, your group, your guide, and one of Waitomo’s most incredible natural glowworm caves.
You are welcome to bring a small camera or phone on our tour. Yes, we are selfie approved! Your guide will also take photos during the tour, which we send to you for free afterwards — perfect for remembering the adventure without having to worry about capturing every moment yourself.
Your visit also helps protect the place you are exploring. A portion of every ticket goes straight back into conservation work on our land, helping us restore native forest, control pests, protect waterways, and care for the cave environment for the future.
After the cave, you can warm up with a hot shower and refreshments back at the farmhouse. We love meeting travellers from around the world and are always happy to share local tips, road trip ideas, and hidden gems around Waitomo and New Zealand.
Come and check out why we consistently receive 5-star reviews and are currently rated the #1 Outdoor Experience in the Waitomo District on Trip Advisor.
This is not a walk-through cave tour. This is a real, small-group, off-the-beaten-track glowworm adventure — and one of the most unforgettable ways to experience Waitomo.
Available Bookings from 10 Jun to 23 Jun 2026
Change Dates
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
Wed 10 Jun
Thu 11 Jun
Fri 12 Jun
Sat 13 Jun
Sun 14 Jun
Mon 15 Jun
Tue 16 Jun
Wed 17 Jun
Thu 18 Jun
Fri 19 Jun
Sat 20 Jun
Sun 21 Jun
Mon 22 Jun
Tue 23 Jun
- Per Person$159.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$109.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$159.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$219.00
- Per Person$109.00
- Per Person$109.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$189.00
- Per Person$219.00
- Per Person$189.00
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
추천해요~
haeeuny from
South Korea
Positively Glowing
Daniel Berube from
Canada
Must visit
Jignesh Patel from
NZ
Must visit
Jignesh Patel from
NZ
Definitiv zu empfehlen!!
jessicaw46 from
Germany
Amazing experience!
karenf14 from
Australia
Amazing experience
Lavinia Borra from
Australia
Amazing experience
Lavinia Borra from
Australia
Amazing experience
Lavinia Borra from
Australia
Mrs Ravlich
xiaoyic from
NZ
Mrs Ravlich
xiaoyic from
NZ
We will be recommending this to everyone!
Megan Laycock from
NZ
We will be recommending this to everyone!
Megan Laycock from
NZ
Amazing Glow worms
yiw2 from
United States
Glow worms
Thais from
Brazil
very nice experience wild and well organized!
sara lyamani from
Morocco
very nice experience wild and well organized!
sara lyamani from
Morocco
Best experience
Shelley Dodd from
Australia
Best experience
Shelley Dodd from
Australia
Caves
Angelina Pachler from
Austria
Wahnsinniges Erlebnis mit einem super Guide
Lars Marcel Schwartz from
Germany
Wahnsinniges Erlebnis mit einem super Guide
Lars Marcel Schwartz from
Germany
Photos taken by our guide, Ash
franks1 from
Australia
Photos taken by our guide, Ash
franks1 from
Australia
Amazing Experience
William Chambers from
United States
Amazing Experience
William Chambers from
United States
Amazing Experience
William Chambers from
United States
Amazing!
Amber Keys from
NZ
Amazing!
Amber Keys from
NZ
Perfect !!!
lorencet from
France
Great
joohyun from
NZ
Dream world
Smita from
NZ
Dream world
Smita from
NZ
MUST DO
Karlee Duggan from
Australia
A glowing review
Sophie from
Australia
A glowing review
Sophie from
Australia
A glowing review
Sophie from
Australia
Caving the way it’s meant to be
Russell from
Australia
loved it
Isabella from
United States
loved it
Isabella from
United States
Absolutely Terrific
Jerry from
United States
Fantastic cave tour
Brenda from
Singapore
Fantastic cave tour
Brenda from
Singapore
Squeeze it!
Clement Jego from
France
Awesome caving experience!
Vanessa von Polheim from
Germany
Wow
Erika from
Estonia
Ein Muss
Stefanie from
Germany
Entrance to a cave
Angela McConnell from
United States
Entrance to a cave
Angela McConnell from
United States
Entrance to a cave
Angela McConnell from
United States
Amazing Experience
Nicole Kelly from
NZ
Amazing Experience
Nicole Kelly from
NZ
Amazing Experience
Nicole Kelly from
NZ
Excellent small group tour
Michelle Massey from
Australia
An absolute 100% adventure
leem2 from
Canada
Fantastic
Bec Davis from
Australia
Fantastic
Bec Davis from
Australia
Fantastic
Bec Davis from
Australia
Definitely an Adventure!
Laura from
United Kingdom
Definitely an Adventure!
Laura from
United Kingdom
Amazing!
victoriab1 from
Malaysia
Amazing!
victoriab1 from
Malaysia
Amazing!
victoriab1 from
Malaysia
Brilliant!!!
Betty from
Australia
Brilliant!!!
Betty from
Australia
The monster ate our guide!
Laura Batchelor from
NZ
Getting ready for caving!
ADIL from
Malaysia
More than just glowworms!
Paul Greig & Anne McAlear from
Canada
Glow worm caving
Luke Lee from
United States
Glow worm caving
Luke Lee from
United States
Glow worm caving
Luke Lee from
United States
The best tour I've ever take
Dorottya Zita Varga from
Romania
The best tour I've ever take
Dorottya Zita Varga from
Romania
Cave entrance
Joanne Diacoumis from
Australia
Cave entrance
Joanne Diacoumis from
Australia
ein Muss
Ulla from
Germany
Outstanding experience
Russell Appleton from
NZ
Magical world with surprises
Velvon Almeida from
NZ
Magical world with surprises
Velvon Almeida from
NZ
Magical world with surprises
Velvon Almeida from
NZ
Amazing
Rebecca from
Australia
Amazing
Rebecca from
Australia
추천!!!
JUNGYU from
South Korea
Glowing Adventures
Brenda Embury from
Canada
Crawling through a tight squeeze!
Isabel Rouse from
United States
WOW
Reems Alias from
NZ
A glimpse of the outside
Diana Rego from
United States
Caves
Hannah Pirovich from
NZ
Excellent
Sarah Wellington from
NZ
Glowing Adventures- a must do!
Patty Mccarthy from
United States
Glowing Adventures- a must do!
Patty Mccarthy from
United States
Glowing Adventures- a must do!
Patty Mccarthy from
United States
Excellent!
Brigitte from
Switzerland
Excellent!
Brigitte from
Switzerland
Very special cave tour
Kenneth Oag from
Australia
Very special cave tour
Kenneth Oag from
Australia
Very special cave tour
Kenneth Oag from
Australia
Our little European group :-)
Ana Despenic from
Australia
atop a huge huge rock amidst the wai in the tomo.
Natalia from
NZ
atop a huge huge rock amidst the wai in the tomo.
Natalia from
NZ
Glowworm Cave
krist from
Germany
Highlight of our holiday
Shayna from
United States
Highlight of our holiday
Shayna from
United States
Highlight of our holiday
Shayna from
United States
Awesome Experience, Highly Recommend!!
Alvin from
Canada
Awesome Experience, Highly Recommend!!
Alvin from
Canada
Great
Erina Crichton from
NZ
Just do it!!
kalving from
NZ
Just do it!!
kalving from
NZ
Excellent experience!
Colleen from
United States
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 675 authenticated Bookme reviews
From Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Small-Group Off the Beaten Track Tour
Thank you so much for your glowing 5-star review! 🌟 We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fun and memorable time exploring the caves with us. It's great to know that the gear provided helped you enjoy the adventure worry-free, and that the magical glowworm experience left a lasting impression!
haeeuny from South Korea wrote on 09 November 2023
추천해요~
동굴투어는 평생 기억될 만한 재미있는 추억이 되었습니다. 저와 남편 포함 5명의 체험자들이 함께 했습니다. 동굴을 따라 들어가는 것도 재미있고 글로우웜을 보는 것은 환상적이었습니다. 거의 20분가량 누워서 글로우웜을 봤습니다. 핸드폰을 가지고 갈 수 있어서 중간중간 멈출 때 사진을 찍을 수도 있습니다. 그리고 애쉬가 찍어준 사진은 정말 멋졌어요. 추천합니다!
From Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Small-Group Off the Beaten Track Tour
Thank you so much for the wonderful review and the recommendation! 🌟 We're thrilled to hear that the cave tour became a fun and lasting memory for you.
jinheek1 from South Korea wrote on 01 March 2023
Amazing Experience
인디아나 존스가 된것처럼 동굴을 탐험할 수 있습니다. 어두운 동굴안으로 들어가는 체험도 색달랐지만 동굴로 안내해준 Ash의 재치있고 친절한 설명이 더 감동적이었습니다. 그리고 깜깜한 동굴속에서 빛을 발하는 glowworm을 아주 가까이서 엄청 많이 볼 수 있습니다.
From Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Small-Group Off the Beaten Track Tour
Fabulous review! Thank you so much, from all of our family here at Down to Earth.
changyeonj from South Korea wrote on 07 February 2020
universe in the cave
가이드분의 친절한 설명과 유쾌한 농담으로 시작한 투어는 처음부터 끝날때까지 지루할틈이 없었고 놀라움의 연속이었습니다. 동굴의 생성과정을 눈으로 확인 할 수 있고 동굴 속에 숨어있는 별들을 가만히 보고있으면 우주속에 있는것같이 느껴집니다. 누구든 꼭 한번 경험해보길 바랍니다.
juntaikl from South Korea wrote on 23 December 2019
꼭 추천합니다.
상업적이지 않고 가족경영으로 오랫동안 지속되어오는 글로우웜 동굴투어입니다. 저희 가족은 4명인데 예약된 날이 비가 억수같이 쏟아지는 날이라 더욱더 동굴투어가 적당했고 특히, 가이드 해주시는 분이 동굴의 역사에 대해서 자세히 설명해주시고 글로우웜을 직접 보게 해주시는건 감동적이었습니다. 가족여행이라면 특히 추천드리고 싶습니다. 말그대로 탐험의 느낌이 많이 나므로 자연 동굴의 사이사이를 통과해야합니다. 많이 비만이신 분은 좀 힘들 수 있을 것 같습니다.
From Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Small-Group Off the Beaten Track Tour
Fabulous review! Thank you so much, from all of our family here at Glowing Adventures.
Powered by Bookme
Copyright © 2026 Bookme Limited.
close
Qualmark Certification
This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.
This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.
This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.
When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.
close
delete
Delete your content?
This item will be deleted immediately. You can't undo this action.
Continue with Facebook
seonmij from South Korea wrote on 31 August 2024
너무 재밌고 좋은 시간을 보냈습니다!
너무 재미있고 좋은 시간을 보냈습니다! 옷과 신발 안전모 등.. 모든 것을 제공해줘서 마음 편하게 투어를 진행할 수 있었어요. 마치 모험을 하는것처럼 동굴을 탐험하고, 밤하늘의 별을 동굴에서 볼 수 있는 특별하고 아름다운 광경은 오랫동안 기억에 남을 것입니다. 가이드분의 친절하고 유쾌한 동행이 이 투어를 더욱 재미있게 만들어 줬어요. 특별한 경험을 해보고 싶은 분들께 추천하며 다음에 기회가 된다면 한번 더 방문 해보고 싶어요. 좋은 추억을 남기게 도와준 가이드 분께 감사의 인사를 드리고 싶습니다! 강추!