Waitomo Cave Tours and Attraction Passes

Who sells what

The big caves are ticketed by Discover Waitomo (waitomo.com), which leases them from the descendants of the Māori landowners. Smaller operators run their own cave trips from other meeting points. Rates are NZD from operator sites in 2026, and each has adult, child and family tiers, so check the operator for the current figure.

Discover Waitomo tickets

  • Glowworm Cave: $85 adult, $39 child, $217 family. 45 minutes.
  • Ruakuri Cave: $122 adult, $46 child, $296 family (2 adults and 2 children). Allow 2 hours.
  • Glowworm plus Ruakuri: $179 adult, $80 child, $432 family.
  • Ruakuri plus Aranui: $179 adult, $80 child, $432 family.
  • Glowworm plus Aranui: $131 adult, $55 child, $284 family.

Departures run from about 10am to 3:30pm, with extras in summer, and busy days sell out. Payment is cashless.

Arriving

Be at check-in 30 minutes early. Your confirmation says where: some pages name 39 Waitomo Village Road and the Ruakuri page names the Ruakuri Visitor Centre on Tumutumu Road. Ruakuri and Aranui are roughly a 10-minute drive from the village, so you need a vehicle.

What the caves are like

The Glowworm Cave is a guided walk and a silent boat ride, with no photography or filming allowed. It has no wheelchair access.

Ruakuri has a spiral ramp at the entrance and takes wheelchairs and pushchairs up to 65 cm wide. Cameras are allowed in selected areas, without tripods or extension sticks on regular tours.

Aranui is a dry cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. It takes about an hour, has stairs, and offers no boat ride. Photos are fine, but formations must not be touched. Check availability when you book.

Smaller-group alternatives

Spellbound meets at 334 Boddies Road, Oparure, Te Kuiti, about 15 km from the village. Come 15 to 20 minutes before the 150-minute tour, which visits the Mangawhitikau Glowworm Cave (with a 20-minute boat ride) and the Cave of the Spirit. Groups are limited to 12, and tickets begin at $109 adult and $38 child. Prams are not allowed, and tripods are banned but camera stations are provided.

Caveworld, at 23 Waitomo Village Road, runs the Footwhistle tour for about 75 minutes, with a shuttle ride to the cave. Solar LED lights along the trail switch off at the river so that the glowworms stand out. Bookings start from $64 for adults, with at least 2 people.

Museum and kiwi house tour

The Waitomo Caves Museum and Discovery Centre, 21 Waitomo Village Road, charges $10 adult and $7 senior, with children 4 to 14 free alongside a paying adult. Phone 07 878 7640 for hours.

Otorohanga Kiwi House offers a behind-the-scenes tour at $45 adult and $35 child, on weekdays at 11:15am with up to 12 people.

Read more: Day trips from Waitomo and Waitomo bus tours .

Booking details: Waitomo Glowworm Cave and Spellbound . Tour search: GetYourGuide .