The 9 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Waitomo Caves, North Island

October 19, 2021 Dorsey Hagwood

Discover the best top things to do in Waitomo Caves, New Zealand including Spellbound Glowworm & Cave Tours, Ruakuri Walk, Kiwi Cave Rafting, Glowing Adventures, Caveworld, Marakopa Falls, Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk, Waitomo i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, Piripiri Cave Walk.
Restaurants in Waitomo Caves

1. Spellbound Glowworm & Cave Tours

Excellent
91%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,717 reviews

Spellbound Glowworm & Cave Tours

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.

2. Ruakuri Walk

Off Tumutumu Road, Waitomo Caves New Zealand +64 7-878 1050 [email protected] http://www.doc.govt.nz/link/3ec5bcbedf2d40f1bd345485931cb14b.aspx
Excellent
79%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 374 reviews

Ruakuri Walk

Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.

Reviewed By Lula444 - London, United Kingdom

Lovey short walk through beautiful forest with a couple of viewing decks - very well maintained paths, lots of steps

3. Kiwi Cave Rafting

Excellent
83%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,362 reviews

Kiwi Cave Rafting

Kiwi Cave Rafting (origionally Rap Raft 'n' Rock) combines 5 spectacular caving adventures into one great value 5 hour tour. Clients abseil down into the cave then go caving, blackwater rafting, see a huge glow worm display and rock climb out. We are 100% locally owned and operated. Our cave is totally natural. We take small groups with a maximum of 6 people. To join the adventure call: 0800 228 372.

4. Glowing Adventures

Excellent
97%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,226 reviews

Glowing Adventures

Our awesome Waitomo adventure is tucked away “off the beaten track” on our family farm and we LOVE it that way and so do our guests. Away from the tourist crowds - You can explore magical glow worm displays in their purest form and at your own pace on our 3-hour guided tours of small groups. With no foot paths or any lighting, this is a genuine natural eco experience. Private Tour - Just like standard Glowing Adventure eco-tour, but for your private group - just you, your friends, and your guide. Glowing Adventures Photography Tour - Private photography tours for 2-4 people. Take your time and photograph some of New Zealand's finest scenery. Photography equipment welcome. NOTE: All tours not suitable for anyone with mobility issues as the tour involves walking through streams and over rocks. A reasonable level of fitness is required

5. Caveworld

23 Waitomo Village Rd, Waitomo Caves New Zealand +64 7-878 6577 [email protected] http://www.caveworld.co.nz/tubeit
Excellent
81%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 452 reviews

Caveworld

Caveworld offer two fantastic tours with the aim to create memorable caving and glowworm experiences for all our customers. Either choose our fun-filled black water rafting adventure Tube It, or bring your family and friends along and join our Footwhistle Glowworm Cave Tour, a relaxed one hour guided walk down through glowworm displays and formations. We are A family-run, locally owned and operated business, Cave World specialises in providing the personal and professional touch on our authentic Waitomo tours, with over 10,000 satisfied visitors experiencing our unique piece of New Zealand each year.

Reviewed By Paradise33065083454

The Footwhistle Cave is owned by a local family and is an excellent tour as well as being exceptional value for money. We were met at Waitomo Village by Ross (the Boss) and taken by van to the cave on private property. This is a very safe and educational tour with thousands of glow worms and a very good spoken history from Ross. The tour is followed by a refreshing cup of freshly brewed Kawakawa tea. We took three children with us and they thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I recommend it.

6. Marakopa Falls

Te Anga Road, Waitomo Caves New Zealand +64 7-878 1050 [email protected] http://www.doc.govt.nz/link/aeef8ed279dd401aa15fd18b660eda3e.aspx
Excellent
75%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 513 reviews

Marakopa Falls

Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.

Reviewed By PippinStubbs - Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

Absolutely beautiful! fun track downhill to the waterfall and viewing platform in the winter months or after heavy rainfall you definitely can get hit by the mist, even in summer with a small breeze you can feel the waterfall coming down. If you are driving here make sure you have petrol as there isn't any place to fuel up and no reception. I also highly recommend visiting the Mangapohue Natural Bridge as its about 40 mins from Waitomo but well worth the trip

7. Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk

Te Anga Road, Waitomo Caves New Zealand +64 7-878 1050 [email protected] http://www.doc.govt.nz/link/b0535f0700114a6ba6267692dfdd296c.aspx
Excellent
68%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 345 reviews

Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk

Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.

Reviewed By 6-world-travelers

If you're in the Waitomo area, this is a 35 minute drive from Waitomo village, and 5 minutes from the spectacular Marakopa waterfall. Coming from the village, parking is on the right hand side of the road; be careful turning in as it's on a curve and there might be traffic to cross. Easy walk through a gorge to the main attraction; crosses a bridge where you'll have to hold onto your kids' hands (lest they fall over the edge) and you're under the limestone arch in about 5-10 minutes. It's 57ft of wow, and hard to capture on camera. If you carry on through, you'll climb a couple of stiles, go through farmland (watch the cow pats) and up and around. Loop takes maybe 20 minutes, tops.

8. Waitomo i-SITE Visitor Information Centre

21 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3943 New Zealand +64 7-878 7640 http://www.waitomocaves.com/visitor-information-i-site/
Excellent
63%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
4%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 84 reviews

Waitomo i-SITE Visitor Information Centre

Reviewed By Swilcan - Illinois, United States

Good service. Woman from gift shop side of store helped me when other two were busy with other customers. Very helpful.

9. Piripiri Cave Walk

Te Anga Road, Waitomo Caves New Zealand +64 7-878 1050 [email protected] http://www.doc.govt.nz/link/d235659711ef489897bd1b500a93b8c8.aspx
Excellent
22%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
33%
Poor
13%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 55 reviews

Piripiri Cave Walk

Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.

Reviewed By barefootlouise - Napier, New Zealand

A quick 5-10min walk to get there. Take a torch to shine inside the cave to see better. Another gorgeous free activity in this beautiful country

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