Waitomo Twin Caves Discovery

Discover Waitomo Caves and Hamilton Gardens on a guided tour from Auckland. Enjoy cultural insights, scenic beauty, and unique experiences. Perfect for families, friends, and couples.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Auckland - We offer pickups from any part of Auckland. Please mention your preferred pickup location and we will there to greet you 15 minutes before the time of departure.
  • Sylvia Park Shopping Centre - While traveling towards the South of Auckland, you will be able to see the early morning buzzling traffic that flows towards north.

We will be passing by Greenlane, Mount Wellington, Tip Top Ice Cream, Manukau City, Rainbows end, and travel towards the South.

Uenuku sculpture - This impressive 8m steel sculpture is located in the Puhinui wetland beside the Auckland Botanic Gardens at Manurewa and is visible from the Southern Motorway.

We will discuss more on Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua sculpture represents the deity Uenuku, the god of rainbows, when we drive toward Waitomo Caves.

  • Bombay - The Bombay Hills, well known for its agricultural produces, a small yet notable range of hills south of Auckland, New Zealand, mark the southern boundary of the Auckland region. They serve as a natural divide between Auckland and the Waikato region.

The settlement of Bombay, including the Bombay Hills, is named after the ship Bombay, which arrived in Auckland in 1863, bringing settlers to what was initially called Williamson’s Clearing.

  • Taupiri - A brief refreshment pitstop at Taupiri. At your own expenses you can grab a coffee, muffin, quick breakfast at some of the outlets available there.

Mc Donalds, Wild bean cafe, Robert Harris, Subway, and Taco Bell are some of the outlets that might be open.

Toilets available in the gas station and restaurants.

  • Hangatiki - A brief stop to take photos with the Giant Moa statue - an extinct flightless birds formerly endemic to New Zealand.

Sam the Moa sits on the side of State Highway 37 in Hangatiki.

We will talk more about Moa on the way to Waitomo Caves.

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves - Discover the magic of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour, one of New Zealand’s top natural attractions. Take a boat ride through the glowworm grotto and be amazed by thousands of glowing worms. Join in over 130 years of cultural and natural history.
  • Waitomo Caves - The Waitomo Homestead, located on State Highway 3 and just a 10-minute drive from Waitomo Village, offers everything you need for your Waitomo adventure.

Café, Restaurant & Gardens
Fuel up before your adventure or relax after a fun-filled day at our café and restaurant, surrounded by stunning rural scenery. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal on our spacious deck or in our cozy dining area. Treat yourself to our famous homemade pies, grab a drink at the bar, or take a leisurely stroll through our beautiful garden.

  • Ruakuri Cave - Discover the magic of Ruakuri Cave and see glowworms up close in this enchanting setting. Begin your adventure by descending through the stunning spiral entrance, and marvel at the limestone formations and crystal tapestries in this uniquely sustainable, solar-powered cave.

Ruakuri Cave is a must-see experience, offering a mesmerizing blend of the most captivating subterranean sights, including glowworms. This journey will leave you awe-struck and humbled by nature’s beauty. Start your tour by descending through the impressive man-made spiral entrance. Admire the delicate, shawl-like limestone formations and crystal tapestries while listening to the distant thunder of underground waterfalls. For an intimate encounter with glowworms and to learn about their fascinating lives, this tour is perfect for you. Photography is permitted in Ruakuri Cave.

  • Mercer - A brief stop for photography and look at a stunning flowing river. The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for 425 kilometres (264 mi) through the North Island.

The name Waikato comes from the Māori language and translates as flowing water.

We will discuss more about Waikato River on our way back to Auckland.

  • Auckland - After viewing Waikato River, we drive to our destination back to Auckland.
What's Included
  • On-board WiFi
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Gifts & Souvenirs
Additional Information

The Waitomo Twin Caves Discovery combines two iconic caves: the Glowworm Cave and Ruakuri Cave.

Glowworm Cave: Famous for its glowworms that light up the cave ceiling, this tour includes a guided walk through limestone formations and a silent boat ride under thousands of glowworms. Highlights include the Cathedral, known for its acoustics, and the mesmerizing glowworm grotto.

Ruakuri Cave: This cave offers a more adventurous experience, featuring intricate limestone formations, underground rivers, and close-up views of glowworms. Highlights include the spiral entrance, stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and glowworms visible from walkways.

Both tours provide an unforgettable experience—Glowworm Cave focuses on the magical glowworm display, while Ruakuri offers a deeper exploration of underground wonders.

  • The product’s total duration already takes into account the time spent traveling to each location and the pickup.
  • ‘’Travel time is included on the tour duration’’
  • “Minimum of 10 people needs to meet in order for the tour to take place”
  • “To secure your tour confirmation and avoid queues, it is recommended to book at least one week prior to travel, as entrance fees for all attractions will be booked in advance.”
Location
Auckland
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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(2 Ratings)
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Kalvin_c
Aug 21, 2024
Stunning twin caves - Our guide and driver Ambrose is excellent. The instructions and interpretations given by him were very clear. Both Waitomo glowworm cave and Ruakuri caves are absolutely amazing. Ambrose also drove us to Hamilton Garden and Mercer to have a look on the longest river in NZ(Waikato River). Definitely worth to visit these places.
Review provided by Viator
Carrie_a
Aug 12, 2024
Awesome caves and gardens experience! - I was so glad I did both caves. Each cave offered a different experience and the two combined really gave a full experience. We also did the Hamilton Gardens and though it was winter it was absolutely stunning and needs to be a must do, but you may not make it if your cave tours get scheduled late in the day, which the tour operator has little control over. This was overall a great experience and if you are looking for an option that doesn't include Hobbiton this is the one you should go with!
Review provided by Viator
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