Waitomo

Waitomo is a district in the North Island of New Zealand whose main feature is its limestone caves and their glowworm inhabitants, a major tourist attraction.

Get in
The Waitomo Caves are between Otorohanga and Te Kuiti. It is 15 minutes drive (18 km) north of Te Kuiti, 1 hour (75 km) south of Hamilton, 2½ hours south of Auckland and 2 hours west of both Rotorua and Taupo.

Travelling south from Otorohanga and Hamilton on State Highway 3, turn right onto State Highway 37 at the Hangatiki roundabout. Waitomo Caves is 7 km up SH 37.

GreatSights operates premium sightseeing tours daily from Auckland and from Rotorua. Grayline Tours does a deluxe version of this tour.

Waitomo offers many different activities for all ages and fitness. There are around 16 different glowworm cave tours you can do from the following caving companies - Kiwi Cave Rafting, The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company, Waitomo Adventures (Waitomo Adventure Center), Spellbound, Cave World and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The local I-site is a great place to go to get information about the different tours available.

Waitomo is a great place to cycle. This aspect is being developed more to meet the increasing popularity of the activity. There are animal petting farms for the children, an abundance of free bush walks with interesting rock formations and caves to explore as well as gardens. Scenic flights and golf. The museum of caves is a must-see in Waitomo.

There are lots of quirky places around Waitomo to stay with lovely kiwi hosts to top off your Waitomo experience. And Waitomo has many great places to eat ranging from cabinet food to fish n chips or pub food, to fine dining and a buffet restaurant.

The locals are friendly and accommodating so don't be afraid to stop for a yarn.

Overall there's more to Waitomo than just a glowworm cave, so come and explore this great destination for yourself!

Get around
There is a shuttle service that can transfer you from Otorohanga and from Waitomo Caves Village you can be picked up for cave tours. The Great Sights bus does transfers to Rotorua daily. Tickets can be purchased at the Information Centre (I-site).

There is lots of accommodation within walking distance of the Village too as well as a few bush walks.

Travellers with a car are able to enjoy more activities further afield from the Village.

See


Tickets can be purchased individually, or in packages (Feb 2019):
 * Waitomo Glowworm Cave and Ruakuri Cave: adult $94, child $35, family $204
 * Waitomo Glowworm Cave and Aranui Cave: adult $79, child $35, family $169
 * All three caves: adult $100, child $46, family $221



Do



 * The Lost World. Abseil 100 metres through the collapsed roof of a cave to the floor below then walk through the caves, seeing glow-worms on the way. Either climb out if you are on the 4-hour trip or continue on through the stream and further caverns on the 7½-hour trip.
 * The Lost World. Abseil 100 metres through the collapsed roof of a cave to the floor below then walk through the caves, seeing glow-worms on the way. Either climb out if you are on the 4-hour trip or continue on through the stream and further caverns on the 7½-hour trip.

Otorohanga
Otorohanga is approximately 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Waitomo, thirty minutes by car.

Go next

 * Pirongia
 * Te Kuiti