Waitomo Caves: Black Water Rafting & Glowworm Tubing Tours

Summary

Glowworm-lit tubing jumps and abseil thrills deep in ruakuri cave

You’ll wade through chilly streams in Ruakuri Cave, leap off short waterfalls with your guide cheering you on, and drift under a sky of glowworms that feels almost unreal. Gear up at base camp, share laughs with fellow travelers, and warm up afterward with hot soup—the kind of day trip that sticks with you long after your feet are dry.

What’s the experience like?

“You’ll probably get cold,” our guide grinned as he handed me the wetsuit at The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co. I was already shivering a bit, but it was more nerves than anything. There’s something about standing there on Waitomo Caves Road, knowing you’re about to drop into the dark with strangers—well, it makes you notice small things. Like how the boots squelched as I pulled them on, or how everyone kept glancing at each other like, “Are we really doing this?”

The first splash into the Ruakuri Cave stream is sharp—10 or maybe 12 degrees Celsius? My teeth chattered but then we were laughing because someone (okay, me) slipped getting into their tube. Our guide, Sam, didn’t miss a beat: “That’s the easy part.” He pointed out the glowworms overhead—tiny blue-green pinpricks that looked fake from photos but felt oddly alive down there. It smelled earthy and old. We floated quietly for a while; even the bravest in our group went silent under that ceiling of light. I still think about that view sometimes when I can’t sleep.

I picked the Black Labyrinth tour (the shorter one), so no abseiling for me this time—but watching another group disappear down into darkness on ropes made my stomach flip anyway. We jumped off two little waterfalls (not huge, but enough to make your heart thump), and Sam told us stories about how locals used to explore these caves with just candles and gumboots. He said something about respecting the place—felt right, honestly.

Back at base after nearly three hours underground, peeling off soggy gear never felt so good. The soup they hand you is basic but perfect—hot and salty and somehow exactly what you want after being half-drowned by adventure. Someone tried to pronounce “Ruakuri” properly and got a round of applause from the guides. So yeah, if you’re thinking about black water rafting in Waitomo Caves… just do it. You’ll remember those glowworms longer than you expect.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Blackwater Rafting and Cave Exploration

• Check in at Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co.
• Get geared up for the tour
• Blackwater Rafting through Ruakuri Cave
• Return to Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co.
• Enjoy hot showers and soup

Top questions

What’s included in the Waitomo Caves black water rafting tour?

Your tour includes all safety equipment (wetsuit, boots, helmet), use of tubes or abseiling gear (depending on option), snacks, hot showers after, and hearty soup.

How cold is the water inside Ruakuri Cave?

The cave stream temperature is around 10-15°C (50-59°F).

Do I need to be able to swim for black water rafting?

No swimming ability is required but you should be comfortable standing in fast-moving water.

What are the age requirements for these tours?

The Black Labyrinth requires participants to be at least 12 years old; Black Abyss requires at least 16 years old. Both require a minimum weight of 45kg.

How long does each tour last?

The Black Labyrinth lasts about 3 hours total (1.5 hours inside cave); Black Abyss is around 5 hours (up to 3 hours underground).

Is hotel pickup included for Waitomo black water rafting?

No hotel pickup is provided; check-in is at The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., 585 Waitomo Caves Road.

Can I bring my camera inside Ruakuri Cave?

No cameras or personal devices are allowed during these tours.

Are hot showers available after the tour?

Yes, complimentary hot showers are provided when you return to base camp.

What’s included

Your day includes check-in at The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., all necessary equipment like wetsuits and helmets (plus abseiling gear if you pick Black Abyss), expert local guides leading every step underground through Ruakuri Cave’s glowworm-lit streams and waterfalls, snacks along the way, free lockers for your stuff while you’re caving, plus hot showers and hearty soup back at base when you finish thawing out together.