Waitomo Caves
General
Waitomo Caves are known by their nickname "Glowworm Cave," a unique phenomenon that exists in few places in the world, and in this area, it is the most prominent and famous.
The caves are located about 200 km south of Auckland and about 150 km west of Rotorua.
They are considered one of the most popular nature attractions on the North Island of New Zealand.
♦ Viator: Booking
Trip to Waitomo Caves and Rotorua and Te Puia from Auckland:
Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Small Group Tour including Te Puia from Auckland
Includes pickup from central hotels in Auckland. This is a long 13-hour trip starting at 6 AM.
In the area, there are over 300 caves and underground rivers creating an underground labyrinth that spans a vast area. The three largest and most impressive caves, which are also the most visited, are: Aranui, Ruakuri and Waitomo. You can purchase a combined ticket for all three, for two of them, or for each one separately.
Waitomo Caves
The most special and visited caves are Waitomo. A guided tour is held there where they explain how the green glow is created in the belly of the worms, the life cycle of the unique insect, and of course, as in every stalactite cave, an explanation of how stalactites, stalagmites, and columns are formed. At the end of the walking tour, you sail in the dark in an underground river, and the whole ceiling glows with thousands of stars from the light of the glowworms.
Recommended Accommodation
Near the Waitomo caves, there is a camping and caravan site with comfortable cabins:
Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park
Just 600 meters from the entrance to the caves. Well-equipped holiday cabins with a kitchen. The holiday village has a large pool, a jacuzzi, and playgrounds for children.
In the nearby town of Otorohanga, 14 km from the caves, there are several recommended hotels:
Redwood Lodge
A high-quality 4-star pension with 8 rooms. The place has a gym, a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, and a sauna. Internet and breakfast are included in the price.
Otorohanga & Waitomo Motels
A 3-star apartment hotel with 12 holiday apartments of various sizes designed for families of 3-7 people. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and free internet. The hotel has a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, and a playground for children.
Short video about the boat trip in the cave:
Ruakuri Cave
For cave lovers, it is recommended to also visit Ruakuri Cave. These caves are known for the combination of nature and technology thanks to the circular path descending into the depth of the caves. They are considered the longest in New Zealand, and you can also see the glowworms there.
The visit to this cave is highly recommended: the tour is longer, more comprehensive, and more intimate than in the main Glowworm Cave. Thanks to this, you get to see the glowworms closer, right beside and above your heads. The cave is also completely paved, and therefore suitable for families and accessible for a stroller.
The stalactites in the cave are also more impressive than in the main Glowworm Cave – the formations are more dramatic, and there is a lot to see.
Rafting
A successful and challenging way to tour the caves in the area is rafting in the "Black Water," meaning: rafting in the caves with tubes. There are several companies that specialize in this. For example, Cave Raft. After walking to the entrance of the cave (each company visits a different cave), you float on tubes inside a dark cave, while descending small waterfalls and natural slides.
On the ceiling of the caves, there is an abundance of glowworms, and in the cave waters, there are eels. A very special experience that also involves physical effort. Not suitable for those suffering from claustrophobia and for those who are afraid of slippery and strange animals... You enter the caves with waterproof suits (the cave water is quite cold), special socks, boots, and helmets with flashlights. It is advisable to book at least a day in advance. These companies (and other companies) also have tours that combine rappelling in the caves.
The caves have nice hiking trails among many ferns and thick vegetation. It is recommended to dedicate at least two hours to hiking these trails.
Mangapohue Nature Bridge Reserve
Another successful hiking route in the area (26 km from the caves) is in the Mangapohue Natural Bridge Scenic Reserve, where there is an easy walking path leading to a large arch and large rocks with shell fossils.
But there is not only caves and nature hikes in the area.
Other attractions that are recommended not to miss in the vicinity are:
Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park
Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird, which is considered the largest kiwi house in New Zealand, is located in the nearby town of Otorohanga (about a fifteen-minute drive north of the caves).
Woodlyn Park
Where it is recommended to watch a humorous one-man show and plenty of farm animals. The place also has a unique hotel with rooms built inside a train, a plane, a ship, and a "Hobbit House."
Watching the Angora rabbit shearing
In a small shop called: The Shearing Shed, every day at 12:45, you can watch an Angora rabbit shearing. It is hard to believe how much wool they shear from one rabbit and by what method. You can watch a YouTube video demonstrating the unique shearing.