Home > Auckland > Waitomo Glowworm Caves Discovery Tour from Auckland
USD $180.00
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Discovery Tour from Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Leave the city bustle behind to witness a fabulous light show at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Marvel at the shimmering glow worms in the caves as you learn about the why they glow and how the caves were formed. Enjoy picturesque scenery en route to the caves and see highlights of the region such as Rangiriri, where British and Maori forces battled in 1863. Have time for lunch and to explore the Waitomo visitor complex before returning to Auckland in the afternoon.
After morning pickup at your Auckland hotel or the bus terminal, travel by comfortable coach for about two hours to reach Waitomo. Take in the picturesque scenery along the way as you travel through the rolling farmland of Waikato and King Country.
Your driver points out highlights of the region including the historically significant Rangiriri, where a major battle was fought between British and Maori forces in 1863 as part of the British effort to colonize the Waikato region.
When you arrive at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a local guide takes you on a 45-minute guided tour through the limestone caves. Walk through subterranean caverns where you see stalagmites, stalactites and other rock formations. Learn how the caves were formed as you take in the magnificent underground chambers. Your tour finishes with a short boat ride through Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of glowworms light up the darkness like tiny stars. Each strand that dangles from the rock is a living glow worm that emits light.
After your tour enjoy a picnic lunch (if option selected) or spend time in the visitor center before returning to Auckland in the afternoon. There is a café on-site with a limited menu if you would like to purchase lunch there.
At the designated time, meet your coach for the return trip to Auckland, where you are returned to your starting point in the afternoon.
NOT WORTH IT!_br/_ 1. Took about 3 hours to get there and another 3 hours back TOTAL OF 6 Hours of sitting down in a crowded bus. _br/_ 2. The cave tour lasted a mere 45 MINUTES of the entire trip! It gets worse! You ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE ANY PICTURES IN THE CAVE nor do they show you what a glow worm actually looks like._br/_ 3. Once the tour ends you have 15 minutes to grab a bite to eat if there isnt a line, use the bathroom AND look around the souvenir shop before you have to hop back on your bus not enough time!_br/_ 4. There was NO Wifi on the bus even though it clearly states that each bus has Wifi before I purchased tickets._br/_ 5. The bathroom on the bus was Out of order
Review by: Marlon C, February 2018
The cave tour itself was beautiful. But I wish I didn't join the tour group as all the buses were rushing us so that people could get to next location. I chose this tour alone with the thought I could spend more time at the caves, but no difference. They just put us on another bus on a schedule
Review by: Natasha P, February 2018
Disappointing. More time is spent on the coach than at the attraction._br/_ Highly over priced!_br/_ Save yourself the trouble of a tour and do yourself as you will get far more out of the day that way.
Review by: Rachel N, January 2018
The glowworm cave is beautiful. It's a long way out in the middle of nowhere, so I would recommend booking a multi-stop tour.
Review by: gvak4, October 2017
Awesome experience but a little more time at the caves would be great. Felt a little rushed and would like to have stayed a little longer.
Review by: Todd S, April 2017
The caves are fantastic. The tour was not.
Review by: Michael D, March 2017
Five hour round trip to find we were not able to do the boat ride so 20 minute tour of the caves and wait for the bus to take us back why were we not informed before we started so that we could decide not to go
Review by: CYNTHIA J, March 2017
We missed the pick-up and emailed the local tour partner to see if we can be accomodated next day, as we are flying out 2 days after._br/_ Local tour partner responded late in the afternoon informng us that their tour is full ntil mar 12, we will be gone by then.
Review by: Jennifer C, February 2017
Very beautiful place. Amazing to learn not only about the glow worms but also the history of the caves. Really cool to see the stalagmites that have formed over years and years. Seeing the glow worms is so magical. It's like looking up into space and seeing bright blue stars everywhere. Absolutely no photos allowed inside because it will scare the worms then their lights will go out for sometimes days. Thought the actual boat tour would be longer though, but it just takes you in a circle in one small cave where there's a huge cluster of worms. Still amazing to see, and the surrounding forest is beautiful as well.
Review by: Jack H, November 2016
Really good tour, it is a very long journey from Auckland though. The bus driver going was good however the one on the way back was boring.... the tour I found was very expensive for a 45min tour!
Review by: Bonnie S, July 2016
Such a great trip! The bus ride to Waitomo is very scenic. Loved the glowworm caves--the glowworms are so cool!
Review by: Lenleb47, November 2015
awesome,stunning
Review by: John C, August 2015
A long way from Auckland but well worth it.The tour of the caves is stunning and so like a starry starry Night. The guide was excellent and it is nice that the caves are still a family business.
Review by: Heather S, June 2015
If I knew about the dark water experience I would have done that one insteadwet suit and walking through the cave. Still amazing and incredibly interesting.
Review by: Carolyn M, March 2014
Loved the trip But the bus driver was on a time frame and the three of us were put on the second boat trip to see the worms so shen we got off the upset bus driver did not let us even stop to use rest rooms or buy the picture of the three of us or get something to eat. So from six in mor I g until ther in afternoon we only had a bit of fruit offered at bus station. Also not realize we were going to be on two different buses do long. Going back the bus did stop an hour into trip to place that had bathrooms only. And he was in a rush to get back for his next appointment. Loved the event but not the experiences of getting back
Review by: Pawel K, March 2014
As for caves package tourist was little bit overprized!
Review by: elizabeth a, February 2012
We really enjoyed the caves and those busy glowworms were really glowing!
Review by: DOLORES M, February 2012
The tour operator left messages for us at our hotel noting the pickup time. The operator/driver of the tour was knowledgable and a skilled driver. The caves did not disappoint and the preordered lunch was excellant! Our return driver was not a very good bus driver. Overall we would do the tour again.
Review by: DOLORES M, January 2012
The tour operator left messages for us at our hotel noting the pickup time. The operator/driver of the tour was knowledgable and a skilled driver. The caves did not disappoint and the preordered lunch was excellant! Our return driver was not a very good bus driver. Overall we would do the tour again.
Review by: Don, March 2011
Not so spectacular. Optional lunch is below average.
Review by: Ryan M, February 2011
Two hour bus ride from Auckland CBD through beautiful country scenery. The drivers were quite informational and friendly. I enjoyed seeing the cave and was awed by the spectacle of the Glowworms! I would do it again one day
Review by: Stephanie T, May 2010
I booked using Viator which would send my booking to a travel agent in NZ. The travel agent didn't check their email so nobody knew that I had paid for everything in total. Had to do last minute chase-up calls. Calling internationally to Viator only to let the answering machine tell me that 'Viator is an online company and will only deal with issues online'. Very frustrating!! Don't see why they have a phone number in the first place then. Other than this panicky hiccup, the actual tour itself was lots of fun and very intriguing.
Review by: Stephanie T, Australia, January 2010
I booked using Viator which would send my booking to a travel agent in NZ. The travel agent didn't check their email so nobody knew that I had paid for everything in total. Had to do last minute chase-up calls. Calling internationally to Viator only to let the answering machine tell me that 'Viator is an online company and will only deal with issues online'. Very frustrating!! Don't see why they have a phone number in the first place then. Other than this panicky hiccup, the actual tour itself was lots of fun and very intriguing.
Review by: , January 2010
The tour was good but the drive was very long.
Review by: Monica W, January 2010
The tour was good but the drive was very long.
Review by: Anonymous, January 2010
The tour was good but the drive was very long.
Review by: Anonymous, United States of America, August 2009
The tour was good but the drive was very long.
Review by: Monica W, August 2009
The tour was good but the drive was very long.
Review by: Robert M, United States of America, March 2009
I enjoyed it but was disappointed that we could not take pictures in the main part of the caves.
Review by: Randall D, United States of America, February 2009
Very enjoyable.
Review by: Melissa F, Canada, December 2008
The tour was mostly riding a bus 2 hours there and 2 hours back with only a very short tour of about 45. A longer tour in the caves would have been appreciated.
Review by: , August 2008
The program wasn't as good as I expected. We were supposed to visit a Maori Village, but we went back to Auckland. The driver was OK and gave us a lot of explanation. It was too expensive for what I expected. Also we were back at 4 o'clock! I was really disappointed.
Review by: Kirsten Z, August 2008
The bus driver was very informative and made the long ride out to the caves go by quickly. The ride back was much longer without any narrative.
Review by: Nadjat Lenda B, August 2008
The program wasn't as good as I expected. We were supposed to visit a Maori Village, but we went back to Auckland. The driver was OK and gave us a lot of explanation. It was too expensive for what I expected. Also we were back at 4 o'clock! I was really disappointed.
Review by: Anonymous, August 2008
The program wasn't as good as I expected. We were supposed to visit a Maori Village, but we went back to Auckland. The driver was OK and gave us a lot of explanation. It was too expensive for what I expected. Also we were back at 4 o'clock! I was really disappointed.
Review by: Anonymous, Germany, December 2007
The program wasn't as good as I expected. We were supposed to visit a Maori Village, but we went back to Auckland. The driver was OK and gave us a lot of explanation. It was too expensive for what I expected. Also we were back at 4 o'clock! I was really disappointed.
Review by: Nadjat Lenda B, December 2007
The program wasn't as good as I expected. We were supposed to visit a Maori Village, but we went back to Auckland. The driver was OK and gave us a lot of explanation. It was too expensive for what I expected. Also we were back at 4 o'clock! I was really disappointed.
Review by: Kirsten Z, United States of America, August 2007
The bus driver was very informative and made the long ride out to the caves go by quickly. The ride back was much longer without any narrative.
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