Waitomo Travel Guide
More than 30 million years after Waitomo first rose from the ocean floor, its unique underground limestone formations stand out as one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and popular natural wonders.
Travelers come here to explore the region’s underground caves, abseil in them, and see the famous glowworms (which are one of the coolest things to see in the entire country) that inhabit their ceilings. They’re simply breathtaking and unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Beyond the caves, I found Waitomo to be quiet, laid back, and relaxing. There’s a lot of natural beauty here and the town is really small. But you won’t need more than two days here unless you are going to use the town as a base to explore the wider region (then you’ll of course need more). It’s just a chill spot for a quick visit before moving on.
This travel guide to Waitomo will help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time here!
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Top 5 Things to See and Do in Waitomo
1. See the glowworms
Waitomo’s underground caves are the primary reason to come to this area. They’re full of a species of glowworm that is native only to New Zealand (they’re actually fly larvae that emit a bioluminescent glow). You can walk, abseil, and float down an underground river to see them. A 45-minute rafting trip is the standard visit, but if you want to go abseiling (also known as rappelling) there’s a five-hour option too. Boat and rafting tours are the most basic option, but you can opt for an extended tour with abseiling.
2. Visit Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park
This wildlife sanctuary is a great place to see New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi (which is flightless and endemic to New Zealand), as well as other wildlife from the area including weka and kea (a weka is a brown flightless bird, about the size of a chicken and a kea is a large olive-green parrot). In addition to birds, you can also see the tuatara, the last remaining species of an ancient order of reptiles that walked the earth over 250 million years ago.
3. Explore Ruakuri Cave
Ruakuri was discovered by the local Maori 500 years ago. It takes its name from the wild dogs that made their home at the entrance and is still a spiritually significant place for Maori. Admire the limestone and crystal formations, underground rivers, and waterfalls, and get up close to glowworms. The cave takes about 75 minutes to explore (it’s the longest in the country). There are a number of guided tours available.
4. Hike to Marokopa Falls
This waterfall is one of the most beautiful in all of New Zealand. It’s 35-meters (114 feet) tall and located in the Tawarau Forest (near the Waitomo glowworm cave). The trail takes only around 20 minutes and takes you through native tawa and nikau forests. Bring a picnic and a book and spend a couple of hours relaxing. It’s about 29km (18 miles) from the caves and it’s free to visit. You can take a scenic drive from Waitomo to Marokopa and combine a trip to the falls with the Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk and Piripiri Cave Walk.
5. Attend the Kiwi Culture Show
This countryside theater has a recurring, hour-long family-friendly performance that showcases local culture and history. There are log sawing and sheep shearing demonstrations, a sheepdog performance, and even a performance by a very intelligent pig! There’s heavy audience participation, making it a fun and interactive show for children and families.
Other Things to See and Do in Waitomo
1. Visit the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre
This small museum highlights the history of Waitomo’s caves and glowworms. You’ll learn about the different ecosystems, how caves form, the flora and fauna that thrive underground, and why there are so many “glowworms.” They also have tons of information about all the caves and tours you can book. Admission is often included with guided cave tours.
2. Explore Aranui Cave
This is one of the smaller caves in the region and is often overlooked. It’s a dry cave, so there isn’t as much living here as in the other caves. However, you’ll see gorgeous limestone formations in the large underground chambers, as well as stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is located inside the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, only five minutes from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Tours are one hour long.
3. Admire Mangapohue Natural Bridge
Mangapohue Natural Bridge is the main highlight of the one-hour scenic drive from Waitomo to Marokopa. The track follows a boardwalk through an impressive limestone gorge that takes you underneath a 17-meter (55-foot) high limestone arch, which spans the Mangapohue River. The arch is all that remains of an ancient cave system. The bridge is just 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Waitomo. Don’t miss the Marokopa Falls while you’re here (mentioned above).
4. Go blackwater rafting
Black water rafting involves riding an inner tube down an underground river. You’ll swim through the river, crawl through narrow passages, jump off waterfalls, and rappel down cliffs. It’s super fun! You can take the tamer three-hour tour or opt for the five-hour, more involved tour. You’ll want to bring a change of clothes and a towel with you. All the other gear is provided, along with safety instructions.
5. See the Piripiri Caves
If you’re heading to the Marokopa Falls or Mangapohue Natural Bridge, make a quick stop at the Piripiri Caves. It’s a small limestone cave where you’ll see all kinds of stalactites hanging from the ceiling. It won’t take more than 10 minutes to see but it’s a neat stop to build into an existing itinerary. It’s one of the few free caves in the area. Bring a flashlight as it will be dark.
6. Explore Pureora Forest Park
This huge park spans over 760 square kilometers (290 square miles) and is teeming with wildlife. Established in 1978 after pressure from anti-logging activists, it’s a majestic place to explore and marvel and the towering trees, including the giant totara, which reaches heights of over 60 meters (197 feet). There are several hiking and biking trails, and there’s even a buried forest here, a consequence of the Taupo eruption (following the eruption of the Taupo crater in 186 BCE, a forest was completely buried under volcanic rock). You can also camp here for a small fee. The park is about two hours away from Waitomo.
7. Bike the Timber Trail
Located in Pureora Forest, this 85-kilometer-long (53-mile) trail is perfect for biking. The trail follows a collection of old tram lines and large suspension bridges. There are three main starting points to the trail (Pureora Village, Kokomiko Rd, Ongarue) and most people bike the trail over two days (walking takes 3-4 days). It doesn’t complete in a loop, so you’ll have to circle back to where you started. There is a shuttle operating between the main stops so you can arrange pick-up times based on how far you plan to go. There are plenty of options for renting bikes in the area.
How to Stay Safe in Waitomo
Waitomo is very safe to backpack and travel. Petty crime is rare so, while you’ll still want to avoid leaving valuables out, you can relax here without constantly being on guard.
Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions apply like never leaving your drink unattended at the bar, walking home alone intoxicated at night, etc. Check out one of the many solo female travel blogs for specific information.
Caving is quite safe too. Unless you have real issues with claustrophobia, you won’t face safety issues in the caves.
As earthquakes and tsunamis do occur in New Zealand, consider downloading the Hazard App from the Red Cross. It has all kinds of advice and tips for natural disasters and will also send out warnings and notifications should a disaster occur.
If you rent a car, don’t leave any valuables in it while hiking or camping overnight. Car break-ins are rare but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If you’re worried about travel scams, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here. There aren’t many in New Zealand though.
If you do experience an emergency, dial 111 for assistance.
Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your important documents, like your passport. Forward your itinerary along to friends or family so they’ll know where you are.
The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance, especially if you’re participating in any adventure activities. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancelations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:
Where to Stay in Waitomo
There are only two hostels in Waitomo. Both are fun, social, and affordable. However, there are a number of affordable motels and B&Bs in the area. Here are some of my recommended places to stay:
Waitomo Travel Costs
Accommodation
- Hostel Dorms – 40-60 NZD per night
- Hostel private rooms – 100-150 NZD per night
- Budget hotels – 130-170 NZD per night
- Traditional B&Bs – 220-250 NZD per night
- Luxury Hotels – 300+ NZD per night
- Airbnb private rooms – 85-120 NZD per night
- Airbnb apartments – 120-170 NZD per night
- Campsite – 20-25 NZD per night
- Cabins – 60-100 NZD per night
Food
- Cheap eats (sandwiches, pizza) – 15-30 NZD
- Casual take-out places – 30-36 NZD per meal
- Sit-down restaurants – 50-85 NZD per meal
- Fast food (think McDonald’s) – 15 NZD
- Beer – 10 NZD
- Glass of wine – 9-15 NZD
- Cappuccino/latte- 5-6 NZD
- Bottled water – 2 NZD
- Groceries for a week – 120-170 NZD
Waitomo Suggested Budgets
Backpacker – 125 NZD Per Day
If you’re backpacking Waitomo, this budget covers staying in a hostel or camping, limiting your drinking, cooking all of your meals, sticking to cheap or free activities (like hiking and free caves), and not renting a vehicle.
Midrange – 275 NZD Per Day
On a midrange budget, you can stay in a private room, eat out for most meals, rent a small car for a couple of days, enjoy a few drinks, and do a few paid activities such as cycling or blackwater rafting in the glow worm cave.
Upscale – 500+ NZD Per Day
On this budget, the sky is the limit! You can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, take organized tours, rent a car for more days, and enjoy all the attractions Waitomo has to offer.
Waitomo Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips
Unless you plan on doing a lot of adventure tours in Waitomo, you can easily stick to a budget here. There’s not a lot to do outside the caves that costs a lot of money. Here are some additional tips to help you save money in Waitomo:
Bring a water bottle – The tap water in New Zealand is safe to drink so bring a water bottle with you to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter so you can always be sure your water is clean and safe!
Take the quick glowworm tour – You can take a guided walk through one of the smaller glowworm caves for around half the price of a full, multi-hour tour. The walk lasts an hour and, while not as exciting as the caving adventure, you’ll still see plenty of glowworms.
Buy a combo upgrade to see the caves – If you combine multiple cave tickets, you’ll save some money. For example, the Aranui Cave is 79 NZD regular price, but when combined with the Waitomo glowworm caves ticket, it’s 122 NZD for both. Triple combos will save you even more.
Find deals at bookme.co.nz – If you’re flexible with your dates, this website often has great deals. You can find blackwater rafting tours for up to 50% off! Also, try grabone.co.nz for more deals.
Cook your own food – Eating out in New Zealand will always hurt your budget. It’s not cheap to eat out in the country and, frankly, there aren’t a lot of great restaurants in this area. If you’re on a budget, save your money and cook your own meals instead.
Reedeem hotel points – Sign up for hotel credit cards and use those points to cover your accommodations when you travel. You’ll get 1-2 nights free with most cards when you sign up. This can make a big difference in your budget. This post will help you understand the basics so you can start earning points right away and have plenty for your trip.
Stay with a local – While there are not many Couchsurfing hosts available in the area there are still some. Try staying with a local to cut down on your accommodation costs.
Avoid the high season – Prices are upwards of 25% higher during the summer months so avoid peak tourist season if you can!
Get a temporary job – If you’re running low on money and still have plenty of time left in New Zealand, check Backpackerboard.co.nz for temporary paying gigs.
How to Get Around in Waitomo
Public transportation – There are no public buses in Waitomo (there are intercity buses that make stops here, however). You can walk most places though. Expect to pay around 29-39 NZD for a one-hour bus to Hamilton (one of the larger cities nearby).
Shuttle – Most organized tours pick you up and return you to your hostel or hotel free of charge.
Bike rental – Bike rentals cost 80 NZD for a full-day rental for a classic mountain bike and 150 per day for an e-bike.
Taxis – Unfortunately, there are no taxis or ride-shares (like Uber) in Waitomo. The town is too small.
Car rental – Renting a car is the best way to explore the region as public transportation is non-existent. There are no car rental offices in Waitomo, but you’ll probably be arriving here by car from elsewhere anyway. Car rentals throughout New Zealand are 35-55 NZD, with prices getting cheaper for multi-day rentals.
For the best rental car prices, use Discover Cars. You can get a free quote using this widget:
When to Go to Waitomo
It’s best to visit Waitomo in the summer, from December to March (remember we’re in the southern hemisphere). It’s peak tourist season, however, the weather is perfect, with daily highs around 22°C (71°F). If you’re going to be rafting or going in the water, the warmer temperatures will make your experience much more pleasant.
In the winter, it can get really cold in the caves, dropping down to 2°C (35°F), making it not an ideal time to visit if caving is your priority.
The shoulder seasons (spring/autumn) are a good time to visit if you’re on a budget as prices will be a little cheaper. The weather won’t be as nice but it will still be temperate!
Waitomo Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources
These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.
- Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
- Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
- Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
- Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
- EatWith – This website allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Locals post listings for dinner parties and specialty meals that you can sign up for. There is a fee (everyone sets their own price) but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
- bookme.co.nz – You’ll get some really good last minute deals and discounts on this website! Just select what area you’re traveling in, and see what activities are on sale.
- treatme.co.nz – The locals use this website to find discount hotels, restaurants, and tours. You can save up to 50% off things like catamaran sailing lessons or three-course dinners.
- SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
- LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
- Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
- Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
Waitomo Travel Guide: Related Articles
Want more tips for your trip? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Waitomo travel and continue planning your trip:
