Waitomo
Caves Visitor Information Centre
Ph: 0800 i-SITE WAITOMO (0800 474 839) Ph: +64 7 878 7640 Fax: +64 7 878 6184
PO Box 12, Waitomo Caves, Waitomo 3943, New Zealand, info@waitomodiscovery.org covery.org
WAITOMO CAVES VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
ACTIVITIES
Select one of the activities listed below or scroll down to view all.
Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre (formerly Waitomo Museum of Caves)
-
Woodlyn Park Kiwi Culture Show
Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre (formerly Waitomo Museum of Caves):
The award-winning Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre explores the above and
below ground treasures of Waitomo including the geology, the development of
caves, cave life, limestone (karst) landscapes, how caves are explored and
local culture and history through modern informative displays.
Visitors can also see cave crystals, stalactites and stalagmites, moa
skeletons, fossils and a giant ammonite. Try some of the hands on
activities, or there is a cave crawl for the more adventurous. The
Centre features a 17-minute multi-media show "Arachnocampa Luminosa",
another must experience for cave visitors that describes the lifecycle of
the New Zealand Glowworm.
A must for all visitors to Waitomo.
Admission charges: Adults $5.00, Children 0-14 yrs free of charge (does not include school groups). Groups by prior arrangement.
Altura
Horse Treks, Gardens and Wildlife Park:
Horse treks over New Zealand countryside. 360 views towards Mt Ruapehu and Mt Pirongia. Wild pigs, goats, deer and turkey often seen. Contour is rolling farmland with limestone formations and caves on the property. Horses are Clyde cross and Station bred, known for their quietness and are very sure footed. Suitable for all abilities. Enjoy a relaxing slow ride or a faster one. With free entry to Gardens and Wildlife Park you can bring a picnic and stay all day. All horse trekkers have free admission to Gardens and Wildlife Park. Riders must be 12 years of age or older - female riders must weigh under 90kg, male riders must weigh under 100kg. 0.5 hour lead trek (NZD$50.00), 1 hour (NZD$65.00) and 1.5 hours (NZD$80.00).
The Gardens and Wildlife Park house 85 different sorts of birds and animals in a 20 acre park, with extensive views over farmland. This includes a large landscaped nocturnal owl house. A large 5 acre country garden with a Gardens of Regional Significance Award through New Zealand Gardens Trust. Allow 1 -2 hours. Admission Charges: NZD$12.00 for adults, NZD$9 for youths, NZD$5.00 for children (2-5yrs), NZD$34.00 for family (2ad 3ch). $5.00 led pony rides (when available).
Start with some training before
heading off on the quad bikes over a working farm viewing the Waitomo
countryside along the way. Helmets, gumboots, goggles
and overalls are provided, so all you need is your camera and a smile.
Allow 1.5 hours.
Cost: $120 per person (minimum age: 16
years
A unique self-guided, 2-day walk (27
km) venturing on trails that
lead through lush native bush, unique limestone formations, caving areas, forestry
and farmland. Situated halfway on the walk on the top of Dundle Hill, is the
Kay's Cabin. This new 38 bunk cabin provides an ideal place for visitors to
enjoy the magnificent views of the Waitomo valley.
Adults - $75.00 per person, secondary student - $50.00, children (12 years and under) - $35.00 per person. Luggage cartage available (charges apply).
Every visitor
will see kiwi on the guided tour of the nocturnal house. View native birds
in a natural rainforest habitat. Other aviaries, ponds and marshlands
display a wide variety of rare and unusual birds, tuatara and geckos.
Admission charges: NZD$20.00 for adults, NZD$6.00 Children ( 5 - 16 years ), Family Pass (2 adults and up to 3 children) NZD $50.00, Free under 5 years.
Pa
Harakeke Eco-Cultural Centre:
Pa Harakeke is an eco cultural centre located in the foothills of the
Pureora mountain. They offer guided tours of their centre as well as
opportunities to plant native trees and offset your carbon footprint.
When your tree is planted you are given a carbon offset certificate and GPS
coordinates so you can follow your trees progress on Google Earth.
Woodlyn
Park Kiwi Culture
Show: 
A
live pioneer NZ history show. Explosions, wood chopping, log sawing, a
'kiwi bear', sheep shearing, farm dogs working and a dancing pig.
Audience participation!
Show at 1.30pm Daily.
Admission charges: Adults $26.00, Children (school age) $15.00, under 5 yrs $6.00, Family $75.00 (2 Adults and up to 4 children), Night show - groups bookings only.
Glowworm Cave: A fully guided tour of the cave, approximately 45 minutes, which ends in a 5 -10 minute boat trip through the Glowworm Grotto. The boat ride follows the same route that the first explorers of the cave used. For the first part of the tour you are walking through the cave with your guide so you can see some formations as well as the Cathedral and tomo. This tour is suitable for all ages, although it does have about 100 steps in the cave. No Photography allowed.
Aranui Cave: Tucked away in the forest of the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve. Aranui Cave features weta, stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations which all crowd in on top of each other. Almost every part of the roof and walls are covered with cave formations in pale brown, pink and white. Approximately 40 minutes. Suitable for all ages. Photography welcome.
Ruakuri
Cave
:
Reopened in 2005 after an interval of 18 years, your guide will bring you up
close to glowworms, cave formations and underground rivers. Your
journey will begin with a spiral descent from ground level via a drum
entrance and walkway. You will then continue on a 1.6 kilometre guided
tour underground that encompasses the longest amount of cave passage in any
walking tour in New Zealand. Allow 2 hours. Photography
welcome in most parts of the cave.
Book any of these tours and receive admission into the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre for only NZD $2.00 extra per adult, children free but must be accompanied by an adult.
Admission charges:
Please note infants aged 0 - 3yrs free.
Waitomo Glowworm Cave: NZD Adult $48, Child (4 -14 yrs) $21, Family (2 adults, 2 children) $115, extra child on family pass $16
Aranui Cave: NZD Adult $46, Child (4 -14 yrs) $21, Family (2 adults, 2 children) $115, extra child on family pass $16
Ruakuri Cave: NZD Adults $67.00, Child (4 -14 yrs) $26.00, Family (2 adults and 2 children) $165.00, extra child on family pass $20.00
Glowworm & Aranui Caves Combo: NZD Adult $65.00, Child (4 -14 yrs) $29.00, Family (2 adults and 2 children) $149.00, extra child on family pass $19.00
Glowworm & Ruakuri Caves Combo: NZD Adult $79.00, Child (4 -14 yrs) $29.00, Family (2 adults and 2 children) $179.00, extra child on family pass $19.00
3 Cave Combo (Glowworm, Aranui and Ruakuri Caves): NZD Adult $89.00, Child (4 -14 yrs) $39.00, Family (2 adults and 2 children) $199.00, extra child on family pass $29.00
Tube
It:
A black water rafting trip through a corridor of glowworms.
Includes water fall jump, cave tubing and a water
slide. Duration 2.5 - 3 hours.
Includes free entry to Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost: Adults NZD $124.00, Child (must be at school), YHA members and students (valid ID required) NZD $110.00 (minimum weight 36kg). Group rates available.
Night Abseil: Your guide will provide you with full instruction/training and descend next to you through this 150 feet deep canyon. Bring your own camera and get photos of your experience. Climb up a series of ladders and then descend into the Canyon a second time in the dark to complete your trip. This is a personalised tour done at your own pace and no prior experience necessary. You will be suspended in a virtual universe, surrounded by glowworms above, below and beside you. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost Night Abseil: Adults NZD $199.00, Child (8-14 years) YHA members and students (valid ID required) NZD $179.00 (minimum weight 36kg) Group rates available.
Footwhistle Glowworm Tour: Newest glowworm tour in Waitomo - started in August 2010. You will walk down steps and then enter the cave. Guides will provide information on the cave, glowworm and surrounds as they take you through to view formations and glowworms. Photography is permitted on the tour.
DAY Tour: Cost: Adults NZD $49.00, Child Children (4 - 14 years) NZD $24.00, Senior/Student/YHA NZD $44.00, Family Discount: Adult NZD $44.00 Child NZD $19.00 (minimum of 3 to get family rates).
NIGHT Tour: Cost: Adults NZD $59.00, Child Children (4 - 14 years) NZD $28.00, Senior/Student/YHA NZD $49.00, Family Discount: Adult NZD $49.00 Child NZD $24.00 (minimum of 3 to get family rates).
Combo Prices Adults:
Tube
It & Footwhistle Glowworm Cave
NZD
$154; Tube It & Night Abseil
NZD
$289; Tube It, Night Abseil & Footwhistle Glowworm Cave
NZD
$333
Green Glow: A tailor-made caving adventure with abseiling, rock climbing through a cave system that also has glowworms. There is 1 kilometre of cave with 7 entrances, 6 abseil sites and a climbing area with climbs from 6 - 25 metres high. You choose which ones you want to climb or abseil down. One booking for each tour with a maximum group size of 4.
Cost: Adults $180.00, Children (under 16 years) $90.00. Minimum booking charge $360.00 (i.e. 1 Adult, or 1 Adult and 1 Child is $360.00).
Legendary
Black Water Rafting:
Black Labyrinth: This is Waitomo's original underground cave tubing experience that made black water rafting a sport known about and talked about all around the world. This trip involves cave tubing, walking, caving, glowworms, waterfall jumps and squeezes. Duration 3 hours. Minimum age 12 years, minimum weight 45kg. Includes half price entry to the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost: $119.00 per person.
Black Abyss: A combination of abseiling (including training), climbing, caving and walking, black water rafting (cave tubing) a flying fox, and waterfall climbs. Float under a galaxy of glowworms. Duration 5 hours. Minimum age 16 years, minimum weight 45kg. Includes half price entry to the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost: $220.00 per person.
Ltd
Spellbound is a
personalised two-cave tour for small groups.
During the 20-30 minute raft ride through the first cave you will see many
thousands of glowworms up close. A hot drink and biscuits follow, then
a scenic optional walk to the Cave of the Spirit for views of a cave with
many natural entrances and fossil Moa bones. Spellbounds glowworms
featured in Sir David Attenboroughs Life in the Undergrowth and Planet
Earth documentaries. Includes half price entry into the Waitomo Caves
Discovery Centre. Allow 3 hours. Photography welcome in
most parts of the cave.
Cost: Adults $70.00, Children (0 - 14 years) $25.00.
Tumu
Tumu Toobing: This caving trip involves black water rafting, walking,
wading, swimming and tubing.
See cave formations
including stalactites, stalagmites, columns as well as glowworms. This trip
suits a wide range of people. The ability to swim is not essential as
the wetsuit provides floatation. Participants should however be prepared to
get very wet. Duration 4 hours. Includes free entry to the Waitomo Caves
Discovery Centre.
Cost $165.00 per person (minimum age 12 years, minimum weight 40kg). Early Bird Booking special at $132.00 may apply please ask us.
St Benedicts
Cavern: Abseil 40m down into the cave before exploring the cave.
The main chamber is
40m high and 100m long crammed with all manner of cave formations including
stalactites, stalagmites and columns. There are no glowworms in this cave,
however it features a 30 metre flying fox (zip line) that runs between the
stalactites. During the trip you will have the opportunity to explore the
cave passageways and discover fossils.
Duration 3.5 hours.
Includes free entry
into the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost $165.00 per person (minimum age 12 years). Early Bird Booking special at $132.00 may apply please ask us.
Haggas
Honking Holes:
This caving trip includes a series of abseils, mostly in
waterfalls, rock climbing and spider walking through the multi pitch cave.
See cave formations including stalactites, stalagmites, columns and
helictites, as well as glowworms close up. It is fast moving and you
will have the opportunity to try your hand at rock climbing, and other cave
games but the guides will allow you time to catch your breath.
Duration 4 hours. Includes free entry
to
the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost $240.00 per person (minimum age 15 years). Early Bird Booking special at $192.00 may apply please ask us.
Lost World
4 hr option: 
Abseil 100m into the
Lost World Tomo (shaft) followed by a dry caving trip as you ascend through
the vaults of this cave system to the surface. Lost World is known for the
height and scenery of its abseil. This cave also features formations
including stalactites, stalagmites, columns and spagatites. There is
also a glowworm display with the sound of the underground river alongside
and a 30m ladder climb. During this leisurely paced trip you will have
the opportunity to explore the cave passageways and discover fossils.
Duration 4 hours.
Includes free entry
into the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost $310.00 per person (minimum age 10 years). Early Bird Booking special at $248.00 may apply please ask us.
Lost World Epic: This trip includes almost all of Lost World 4hr Option but instead of exiting the cave via the 30m ladder you spend several hours walking, wading and swimming along the underground river passage to eventually emerge at the submergence (where the stream goes underground). In addition to the 100m abseil, there are various optional waterfall jumps, squeezes. It includes a packed lunch underground and steak BBQ and salads after emerging from the cave. Duration 7-8 hours. Includes free entry into the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost $445.00 per person (minimum age 15 years). Early Bird Booking special at $356.00 may apply please ask us.
Kiwi Cave Rafting (formerly Rap Raft n Rock): This trip starts with a 27 metre abseil down into the cave, you then have caving, black water rafting, optional squeezes, glowworms and then a rock climb out of the cave at the end. Duration 5 hours. Includes free entry to the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre.
Cost $160.00 per person (minimum age 12 years, minimum weight 45kg)
email us at: info@waitomodiscovery.orgo.nz 03/02/2012