Waitomo Caves & Rotorua Tour: Glowworms & Pōhutu Geyser

Glowworms by boat, then geysers and Māori carvers in a single day

This small-group tour departs Auckland CBD for two of New Zealand's most visited natural sites: Waitomo Caves, where you boat through glowworm-lit caverns, and Te Puia in Rotorua, where you witness Pōhutu Geyser and watch Māori artists carve and weave at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. A guide in English or Japanese leads the full day, including all entry fees and return transfers from your Auckland hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Waitomo Caves1h · entry included
2. Te Puia1h 30m · entry included

Explore Waitomo Caves and Rotorua

• Explore Waitomo Caves with guide
• Boat ride through glowworm caves
• Visit Te Puia geothermal area
• See Pōhutu Geyser and mud pools
• Observe kiwi at Conservation Centre
• View Māori artwork and crafts

The experience

The tour runs 11.5 hours total, with the drive and stops combined. You're picked up from Auckland CBD and driven to Waitomo Caves first. Once inside, a guide walks you through the cave system and explains the glowworm life cycle as you move through the passages. The centerpiece is a boat ride: you float along an underground river while gazing up at thousands of glowworms clinging to the cave ceiling, their light reflecting off the water below. The effect is often compared to a starry night sky trapped underground.

After Waitomo, the tour heads south to Rotorua and Te Puia, the geothermal reserve. Here you see Pōhutu Geyser, the Southern Hemisphere's largest, along with boiling mud pools scattered across the valley floor. At the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute on the same grounds, you watch skilled carvers and weavers at work and learn the stories behind their pieces. The Kiwi Conservation Centre is also on-site if you want to see New Zealand's native bird. Your guide shares context about Māori culture and the geothermal landscape throughout.

The tour includes a lunch break at a local café in Rotorua. Meals are at your own cost. Start time varies depending on cave and Te Puia availability that day. You'll receive a message confirming your pickup time before the tour. The return journey to Auckland CBD follows the same route you came in on.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from Auckland CBD.
• admission to Waitomo Caves with a guided cave tour and boat ride.
• admission to Te Puia with access to Pōhutu Geyser, mud pools, and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.
• a guide fluent in English or Japanese for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 10 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by NAVI Tours New Zealand

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the experience intimate without the pace of a large coach tour, and the 11.5-hour span lets you see two major North Island attractions in one day rather than splitting them across separate trips. The fixed itinerary and included transport from Auckland work best if you don't have a rental car or prefer not to drive long distances yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens inside Waitomo Caves on this tour?

You walk through the cave passages with a guide who explains glowworm biology and Waitomo's history, then board a boat that floats you along an underground river while you look up at glowworms lighting the cave ceiling above.

Is Pōhutu Geyser guaranteed to erupt when I visit Te Puia?

Pōhutu Geyser erupts regularly but not on a fixed schedule. You'll see the geyser and the geothermal valley, and the guide will explain the geothermal activity. Mud pools and hot springs are always active.

How long is the drive from Auckland to Waitomo Caves?

The tour is 11.5 hours total, including all driving and stops. Most of that time is split between the Waitomo Caves visit, the drive to Rotorua, and the Te Puia experience. Exact timing depends on traffic and cave availability.

Can I see the kiwi bird on this tour?

The Kiwi Conservation Centre is located at Te Puia, so you have the opportunity to see New Zealand's native kiwi bird during your visit there.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

The tour includes a lunch break at a local café in Rotorua, but you pay for your meal separately at that time.