Waitomo Sightseeing: Caves and Te Anga Road
Sights in Waitomo
Waitomo’s main sights are three guided caves in the village area and a string of free stops west along Te Anga Road. Prices are in NZD, were read from operator pages in 2026, and change by season, so check the operator for current rates. Cave tours can be cancelled in flooding, so check operator and council notices before you drive.
The three caves
Waitomo Glowworm Cave at 39 Waitomo Village Road is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with tours through the day. The tour lasts 45 minutes and ends with a silent boat ride. Tickets are $85 adult and $39 child. Photography and filming are not allowed, and there is no wheelchair access.
Ruakuri Cave has a spiral ramp entrance, waterfalls, limestone and glowworms. Tickets are $122 adult and $46 child, and the visit takes about 2 hours. It is fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Photography is allowed in selected areas only. The name means Den of Dogs. The natural entrance is a Māori burial site, and the tour route avoids it.
Aranui Cave is a dry cave of stalactites and stalagmites, about 1 hour, reached by stairs. It has no boat ride and no wheelchair access. Photography is allowed, but do not touch the formations. Check availability when booking. The Twin Cave Combo with the Glowworm Cave costs $131 adult.
Check in 30 minutes before departure. Ruakuri and Aranui are about a 10-minute drive from the village.
Te Anga Road stops
| Stop | Distance west | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Mangapohue Natural Bridge | about 25 km | a 17 m arch; check the DOC page for track status first |
| Piripiri Cave | 28 to 29 km | free, a 5-minute walk and steps, bring a torch; giant oyster fossils toward the back |
| Marokopa Falls | 30 to 31 km | 35 m falls on a short, easy track, about 20 to 30 minutes return |
Te Anga Road is narrow and winding, and there is no fuel west of Waitomo. Fill up at Otorohanga, Piopio or Te Kuiti.
Waitomo Caves Museum
The museum at 21 Waitomo Village Road covers caves, glowworms, fossils, karst country, Māori artefacts and moa bones. Entry is $10 adult and $7 senior, and children 4 to 14 are free with a paying adult. Call 07 878 7640 for opening hours.
A short history
Local Māori chief Tane Tinorau and surveyor Fred Mace explored the Glowworm Cave in 1887, and it opened to visitors in 1889. Ownership returned to Tane Tinorau’s descendants through the Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust in 1990, and Discover Waitomo leases and runs the caves.
Glowworms
The glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is the glowing larva of a fungus gnat found only in New Zealand. It uses sticky silk lines to catch insects.
Read more: Attraction tours in Waitomo and Waitomo walks .
Official pages: Marokopa Falls walk (DOC) and Waitomo Caves Museum . Compare tours on GetYourGuide .