Waitomo Cave Tickets, Combos and Small Tours
Waitomo cave tickets and combos
Most Waitomo attraction tours are cave tours sold by Discover Waitomo, the company that runs the main caves under a lease from the local Māori landowners. Prices are in NZD, were read from operator pages in 2026, and change by season, so check the operator for current rates. Adult, child and family prices differ, and a family ticket means two adults and two children.
| Ticket | Adult | Child | Family | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waitomo Glowworm Cave | $85 | $39 | $217 | 45 minutes |
| Ruakuri Cave | $122 | $46 | $296 | allow 2 hours |
| Glowworm plus Ruakuri | $179 | $80 | $432 | most popular combo |
| Ruakuri plus Aranui | $179 | $80 | $432 | top cave combo |
| Glowworm plus Aranui | $131 | $55 | $284 | twin cave combo |
Peak days sell out, so book ahead. Tours leave from about 10am to 3:30pm, with extra departures in summer. The ticket site is cashless.
Check-in and getting there
Check in 30 minutes before departure. The Glowworm Cave and combo pages give 39 Waitomo Village Road for check-in, while the Ruakuri page names the Ruakuri Visitor Centre on Tumutumu Road, so read your confirmation for the right place. Ruakuri and Aranui are about a 10-minute drive from the village and need your own transport.
What each cave offers
Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a guided walk that ends with a silent boat ride under the glowworms. Photography and filming are not allowed on the tour, including phones and GoPros, and photos are sold afterwards through the operator. The cave has no wheelchair access.
Ruakuri Cave has a spiral ramp entrance, waterfalls, limestone and glowworms. It is fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible for chairs and pushchairs up to 65 cm wide. Photography is allowed in selected areas only, with no tripods or extension sticks on regular tours.
Aranui Cave is a dry formation cave with stalactites and stalagmites, about 1 hour, with stairs and no wheelchair access. There is no boat ride. Photography is allowed, but do not touch the formations. Check availability when you book.
Small-group options
Spellbound runs a Glowworm and Cave Explorer tour of about 150 minutes for up to 12 people, from $109 adult and $38 child. The tour includes a 20-minute flat-water boat ride and a second cave. It meets at 334 Boddies Road, Oparure, about 15 km from Waitomo village, so arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. Prams are not allowed, and the tour suits children from about 4. Cameras and phones are welcome, but tripods are not.
Caveworld is at 23 Waitomo Village Road. Its Footwhistle tour takes about 75 minutes, with a shuttle to the cave, solar-powered LED lights along the trail and moa bones pointed out by guides. Booking starts from about $64 adult, with a minimum of 2 people.
Museum and kiwi house
The Waitomo Caves Museum and Discovery Centre is at 21 Waitomo Village Road and covers caves, glowworms, fossils and Māori artefacts. Entry is $10 adult and $7 senior, and children 4 to 14 are free with a paying adult. For hours, call 07 878 7640.
Otorohanga Kiwi House runs a behind-the-scenes tour for $45 adult and $35 child, on weekdays at 11:15am, for up to 12 people.
Read more: Sightseeing in Waitomo and day trips from Waitomo .
Official pages: Discover Waitomo , Spellbound and Caveworld . Compare tours on Viator .