Caving & Black Water Rafting - Waitomo Adventures Waitomo
About
Description
Welcome to Waitomo Adventures – New Zealand’s leading provider of Blackwater Rafting & Cave Abseiling Adventures
THE most amazing New Zealand caving adventures are right here in our very own Waitomo Caves area. Waitomo glow worm caves location; just 2 hours south of Auckland, 1 hour south of Hamilton, and 2 hours west of Rotorua makes it an easily accessible holiday activity. Our unique and mind-blowing caving adventures offer something for all ages.
With our fantastic team, and over 25 years experience – we really are the very BEST.
With caving, tubing, blackwater rafting and abseiling adventure tours, we have something for everyone.
Our outstanding safety reputation by our dedicated team here at Waitomo Adventures is coupled with our commitment to infrastructure and training. A large contributor to industry standards, Waitomo Adventure guides are incredibly helpful, great fun and very focused.
Safety is paramount here at Waitomo Adventures New Zealand. We pride ourselves on our ‘no serious harm’ track record, and have the best in caving expertise and knowledge.
We will supply all of your equipment; including helmets, lights, special vertical gear, and overalls/wetsuits (as appropriate) and PVC boots. Thick socks are a good idea, but optional (please note your socks will get wet and muddy).
All our safety equipment is amongst the best available, often especially manufactured for the purpose.
Our guides are trained to the highest industry standards for this type of work and we have high guide ratios – ranging 1:4 to 1:6, depending on the activity.
Tumu Tumu Toobing
This ripper of a trip combines the best elements of blackwater rafting with walking, climbing, swimming and tubing through distinctive sections of the spectacular TumuTumu Cave. See awesome cave formations as well as some of New Zealand’s famous and unique glowworms.
Allow 4 hours for this trip, including at least 2 hours underground. Emerge over 2 hours later and enjoy a hot shower before heading back to Waitomo.
If you’d like to give it a go, you’ll have to be at least 12 years of age with a minimum weight of 40 kg. All you need is swimwear, a towel and a good sense of humour!
Rambo Rating: 6/10
Glowworm Rating: 7/10
Haggas Honking Holes
This is Waitomo’s most concentrated Action Adventure. Feel like Indiana Jones in a washing machine. Do a series of abseils, rock climbs, crawling and cruising as you explore this fabulous cave. Haggas Honking Holes is very exciting fast moving action. It’s an adventure that crams lots of action into only 4 hours. See unique formations and glowworms close up.
Participants should be fit and brave but no prior experience is required. Full training & equipment is supplied. Allow 4 hours for this trip, including 2 hours underground.
Trip departs daily and bookings are essential. You’d have to be at least 15 to give this one a go. Bring your swimwear, a towel and don’t forget your sense of humour!
Rambo Rating: 8/10
Glowworm Rating: 6/10
Lost World Tour - 4 hours
Abseil (rappel) 100m slowly into the Lost World, secured by your guide who abseils alongside. After the approximately 30 minute descent, you embark on your journey back to the surface though another spectacular dry cavern.
The abseil is at least twice the height of any other cave at Waitomo and the beauty of this iconic cavern is unsurpassed. Descend slowly turning in the void as the mist filtered light gives unreal qualities to the strange plants and formations.
The minimum age for this trip is 10 years old and please don’t forget to wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing (Jeans not advised). Allow 4 hours for this trip, including at least 2 hours underground.
Rambo Rating: 6/10
Glowworm Rating: 7/10
Lost World Epic - 7 hours
This is Waitomo's Ultimate Adventure. Abseil 100m into the surreal Lost World. Descend slowly bouncing and turning as the mist filtered light gives unreal qualities to the strange plants and formations.
The abseil into the Lost World is at least twice the height of any other cave at Waitomo and the beauty of this iconic cavern is unsurpassed.
The descent takes about 30 minutes. Then have lunch with us down below before taking the wet way out! After lunch in probably the strangest setting you have ever eaten, you’ll head upstream, walking, swimming and climbing through cathedral-size vaults.
You’ll see waterfalls, ancient whalebones and oyster fossils as well as the magnificent glowworms.
Emerge several hours later and enjoy a hot shower & well-earned dinner BBQ meal near the cave before heading back to Waitomo. All drinks and meals are included in this awesome 7 hour trip.
Minimum age is 15 and be sure to bring your swimwear, a towel and an open mind.
Rambo Rating: 8/10
Glowworm Rating: 10/10
St Benedict's Caverns
Abseil and then explore what is one of New Zealand’s most special and picturesque places. No glowworms here, but St Benedict’s Caverns is regarded by many as the country's prettiest cave or 'best dressed' cave.
The trip is relatively gentle, dry and physically not that hard. It’s a great option if you are looking for something not too cold and wet, but still sporty with lots of activity and fun!
St Benedict's includes 2 abseils and a spectacular underground flying fox. Just imagine yourself flying past the stalactites!
You’ll be truly amazed with what’s hidden underneath the beautiful farm landscape. Allow 4 hours for this trip, including approximately 1.5 hours underground.
Minimum age is 12 and all you need is comfortable clothing (no jeans). We provide everything else.
Rambo Rating: 6/10
Glowworm Rating: ZERO
Gruseome Twosome Combo
This is a popular combo which saves you $107.00 (20%) combining Haggas Honking Holes with the spectacular Lost World 4 Hour adventure.
You’ll traverse from the fast moving, high action Haggas Honking Holes trip to the stunning, serene and scenic Lost World.
Here is your chance to experience the very best of two amazingly beautiful caves.
You’ll get to see and learn about the famous glowworm, come across ancient fossils and whalebones caught forever in the cathedral-like limestone formations.
Bring your swimwear and a towel plus a vivid sense of action adventure. We provide everything else, including wetsuits, helmets, footwear and full training.
Minimum age is 15 and bookings are essential.
Trips Include
- Professional guides
- All equipment including waterproof clothing, wetsuits, booties, helmets & lights
Duration
- Allow 4 hours for all tours
- Lost World Epic - allow 7 hours
- Gruesome Twosome Combo - allow 8 hours
Departures
- All tours depart several times a day in the morning & afternoon
- Lost World Epic & Gruesome Twosome departs at 10.30am
- All tours depart from the Waitomo Adventure Centre located on Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo
- Operates all year
Other Information
- Special price conditions: 1. Must be booked & paid not less than 24 hrs in advance of departure 2. No cancellations or transfers
- Our Lost World 100m Abseil is about twice the height of any other in Waitomo
- Minimum age limits apply for all tours
- No matter what the weather – we can operate some of our trips
- The adventures on this site are uniquely ours
- All our adventure caving activities are class winners at the NZ Tourism Awards
- "Best Practice" safety procedures only are used
- Our trainees are all constantly closely supervised
- We are Qualmark endorsed
- We will open every day except Christmas Day and New Years Day