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Waitomo Eco Adventure Glowworm Cave Tour
5.0
311 Ratings
Te Kuiti
Embark on an intimate, personalised, and eco-friendly adventure in Waitomo Glowworm Caving. Discover amazing glow worm displays, away from the crowds, with small group sizes and a family-owned experience.
Embark on an intimate, personalised, and eco-friendly adventure in Waitomo Glowworm Caving. Discover amazing glow worm displays, away from the crowds, with small group sizes and a family-owned experience.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo - 1199 Oparure Road, Maungarongapu Cave
- Down to Earth - Eco Cave Tours In Waitomo - 1199 Oparure Road, Maungarongapu Cave
What's Included
- Guided caving tour with a knowledgeable local guide
- All necessary caving equipment provided
- Warm clothing supplied, including thermal top, pants, fleece, and more
- Refreshments with tea, coffee, and snack
- Complimentary photo email post-tour
- Authentic Kiwi hospitality experience
- Guided caving tour with a knowledgeable local guide
- All necessary caving equipment provided
- Warm clothing supplied, including thermal top, pants, fleece, and more
- Refreshments with tea, coffee, and snack
- Complimentary photo email post-tour
- Authentic Kiwi hospitality experience
What's Not Included
- We can not pick up or drop off. There is no public transport so you will need to have your own transport to 1199 Oparure Road.
- We can not pick up or drop off. There is no public transport so you will need to have your own transport to 1199 Oparure Road.
Additional Information
Experience the highest-ranked, most private, and most bespoke glow worm cave trip in Waitomo.
Our exceptional Waitomo experience is concealed “off the popular path” on our family-owned farm, and we thrive on its seclusion. This aspect is highly appreciated by our visitors as well.
Our “Radiant” Features:
• Breathtaking view of glow worms!
• Balanced…
Experience the highest-ranked, most private, and most bespoke glow worm cave trip in Waitomo.
Our exceptional Waitomo experience is concealed “off the popular path” on our family-owned farm, and we thrive on its seclusion. This aspect is highly appreciated by our visitors as well.
Our “Radiant” Features:
• Breathtaking view of glow worms!
• Balanced dose of adventure
• Distanced from the masses
• Limited group capacity
• Photography allowed
• Genuine eco-friendly voyage
• Run by a family
• Inclusive of photographs, tea, coffee, and snacks
• The top-rated tour in the Waitomo District according to Trip Advisor
- Minimum of 2 people per tour.
- Maximum of 8 people per tour.
- Minimum age is 12 years.
- Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
- This tour is not suitable for elderly people or anyone with mobility difficulties as it involves climbing over boulders, walking up hills and wading through streams with rocks underfoot.
- A reasonable level of fitness is required.
- Tours may be cancelled in case of flooding. In the unlikely event that your tour is cancelled, you’ll receive a full refund.
- Not recommended for travelers with a low level of fitness
Location
1199 Oparure Road
Oparure Road
1199 Oparure Road, follow the signs.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(311 Ratings)
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1 star
Anne_h
Dec 9, 2024
Adventure Awaits You! - The moment you meet Ash from Down to Earth Eco Tours, you will know that you are in for an extra ordinary experience. He is funny & witty. I would recommend this for anyone who is in good physical condition and has an adventurous spirit. All your clothing and gear is provided. Your journey starts with a light hike down the hillside beside the grazing sheep. This is a 4th generation-family owned property that the family have opened up for this activity. You will take stairs down to the cave entrance and be greeted by scenes you will swear could only be generated by AI
they are that amazing. For the cave experience, you can expect to climb and crawl in some small spaces for the first part but - very doable so don't stress about it. Ash was very reassuring and helped to calm my nerves.
(Not going to lie- I initially thought - What did I sign us up for?)
Trust me-You can do it!
After you get over the fact you are climbing into a dark/small space- it is very manageable. The first part is where you question yourself- afterwards, the cave space is very large and spacious.
Ash was very gracious about taking photos in key areas -and yes, the Glow worms are amazing.
On the way out you will need to climb a lot of stairs to get back up to the property - so take your time, no need to rush.
The tour ends back where it begins and you can enjoy getting to know your tour mates and Ash over some cookies and coffee/tea. If you are looking for a non touristy type of thing to do -THIS IS IT! We have officially adopted Ash as our Kiwi brother. Would highly recommend this an option to the other Waitomo Cave Tours. And just in case it matters or helps you decide -we are in our mid 50's and 60's for age reference.
Review provided by Viator
Sightseer29545047249
Dec 3, 2024
Glowworm Galaxy - Our guide Ash was very friendly and caring for those of us who were not that fluent in English, so we had a very relaxing time.
It was interesting to see fossil oysters and eels before viewing the clay fireflies, but it was a great experience to see them in full sky with all the headlights turned off and only the sound of the river reverberating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeffsteger
Nov 29, 2024
Intimate Caving and Glowworm Experience - Amazing caving and glowworm experience away from all the crowds! We loved the intimate, small-group aspect of this tour. Thanks to Ash for the great hospitality and many laughs! Cheers from Montreal, Canada!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Saraf0ghm
Nov 29, 2024
FANTASTIC TOUR OFF THE BEATEN TRACK!!!! - We had an amazing tour!! It was pouring rain and we still had the best time with the greatest guide! Heads up, this tour is really off the beaten track - and we loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laurencely2456vz
Nov 27, 2024
Exceptionnel - Experience out of the ordinary, breathtaking, beautiful, exceptional, if you have been there take the detour you will not be disappointed 🤩. an adorable and very attentive guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Discover28547075371
Nov 26, 2024
Awesome adventure - It was amazing. Ash the tour guide was crack up and very knowledgable, he took some amazing pics too! I enjoyed going in such a small group too. It was just me and two other people. It was a great adventure. I hope to do it again soon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sjstone0122
Nov 25, 2024
Exceeded expectations. A trip highlight - To start, this tour is on private property and family owned, so you’re exploring a cave outside of the ones saturated with tourists. All clothes/shoes/gear are provided. Theres a short walk through a luscious field before you enter a tropical forest leading to the cave. Then the real fun begins as our phenomenal guide Ash took us through the caves to find the glow worms. We all could have sat in silence forever just taking in the peace and beauty. He even took amazing photos for us and emailed them after the tour. While this tour is slow paced and doesn’t require experience, it does require a certain amount of mobility and physicality, as you are walking on uneven terrain, climbing rocks, and shimmying/crawling through some tight spots. Overall it exceeded expectations, felt very personal, and was a highlight of our NZ vacation.
Review provided by Viator
Milauras
Nov 23, 2024
Real Caving + Glow worms - Wonderful caving experience with a small group of six. The guide, Ash, was very supportive, helpful, friendly and full of info. It is gorgeous country and the cave and glow worms were so cool.
It is moderately strenuous- if you have mobility issues in feet/knees/hips or arthritis, it will be difficult. You will walk through water and get some in your boots and you will get dirt and mud on yourself. You will be clambering up boulders and squeezing through a few spots, but it’s definitely workable for most people. You will be given all of the clothes and boots to wear- you just wear your own undergarments-and yes- you want to do this because you will get wet and dirty.
Ash took some great pics and emailed those which was wonderful because most of my glow worm pics did not come out in the dark. At the end we all sat together for about 30 min and had tea and cookies and talked. That was a really nice way to end the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daydream26121160855
Nov 22, 2024
Great Tour! - Because it was fully booked at the well-known place for the glowworms, I randomly read about the "Down to Earth" cave tour on the Internet. In retrospect, I'm glad the tours at the well-known place were fully booked. I was able to experience a great cave tour with "Down to Earth". In a small group of 6 people, we walked into the cave with rubber boots on our feet in the middle of a stream. Equipped with a helmet and headlamp, we sometimes had to climb over larger stones. The exciting path through the cave and especially the glowworms, to see a starry sky shine, made the tour unforgettable. Ash, our guide, was also always concerned about our safety and explained very informatively during the tour. I can recommend the tour 100%, would do it again myself immediately! It was an unforgettable adventure. Thanks to the whole team of "Down to Earth".
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sunshine37789277327
Nov 22, 2024
The Best Experience Ever - The most amazing tour!! Climbing in the caves made me feel like a kid again, so much fun. The beautiful scenes in the cave and glowworms made it the best experience. Our guide Ash made the trip even better his great energy made us feel welcome and kept us laughing. If you are in the area, don’t think twice about booking you definitely won’t regret it!! ⭐️🌻🌿🌱
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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