Experience the magic of the Waitomo Caves

A Living Galaxy
Imagine being engulfed in darkness as you glide silently along the subterranean Waitomo River. Then you enter the cavernous Glowworm Grotto, and the black is banished by a galaxy of tiny living lights. Unique to New Zealand, Arachnocampa Luminosa glowworms radiate light. And the Waitomo Caves are one of the only places you can experience the starry wonderland firsthand.

Waitomo in winter
This winter, why not escape the rain and take sanctuary in the shimmering Waitomo Caves? All three maintain the same temperature throughout the year, and are the perfect indoor activity to keep you dry. They’ve served as havens hundreds of years, with the Ruakuri Cave first discovered by a young Maori hunter. He slipped into the subterranean world when attacked by wild dogs, which earned the cave its name – in Maori, ‘rua’ means den and ‘kuri’ means dog.

Subterranean adventures for the whole family
With well-maintained boardwalks, mood lighting and expert guides, the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves are the perfect place to take the whole family. Both fun and educational, the caves fascinate every generation. And, they’re especially amazing in winter which means the upcoming school holidays are a great time to visit one of New Zealand’s top attractions.

Friendly guides are on-hand to reveal the secrets behind Mother Nature’s mesmerising light display, and tell you more about the limestone spiers, crystal tapestries, tumbling waterfalls and Maori legends that make the caves so special. There’s also a focus on environmental significance, which means the little ones will leave with a greater appreciation for preserving and protecting the natural world. After all, the caves have been around for 30 million years which means they’re definitely worth protecting.

As well as being New Zealand’s longest underground passageway, the Ruakuri Cave boardwalk is also pram and wheelchair friendly. Take the kids down through the spectacular spiral entrance, and snap pictures with glowworms as they light up the cave.

Discover ancient legends and Maori myths
If you’re up for an adventure, take the family on an enchanted bush walk to discover the hidden entrance to Waitomo’s best kept secret, Aranui Cave. Named after a local Maori man, it’s steeped in myth and legend. You’ll get to explore ancient cave formations, gaze up at cathedral like chambers and admire the rainbow hues of Waitomo’s largest stalactite and stalagmite formations. The cave is also home to a colony of native New Zealand cave wetas, which makes it great for kids that love creepy crawlies.

This winter Waitomo Caves is offering a range of deals, discounts and family combos, with the chance to save up to 50% on entry fees. This makes it easy and affordable for the whole family to discover the magic of New Zealand’s most enchanting caves.
You can even book online, which means when you arrive in Waitomo you can simply breeze through the visitor’s centre and start exploring over 30 million years of living history.

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