You can only visit the Waitomo Caves with a tour guide, and tours typically include a walk through the caves and a boat ride through the glowworm grotto. Expect to see all sorts of interesting formations, many with creative names such as the "Pipe Organ" and the "Banquet Chamber." You can take a Waitomo Cave tour from Auckland or Rotorua and many tours are combined with other Waitomo region attractions, such as the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings.
Waitomo Cave tickets are included in the cost of guided tours.
Facilities at the Waitomo Caves Discovery Center include restrooms, a café and restaurant, and free Wi-Fi.
It can get cold in the caves, so bring a warm jacket and wear comfortable shoes.
Cameras and GoPros are not permitted inside the caves.
The caves are not wheelchair accessible and access might be tricky for those with mobility problems. However, the nearby Ruakuri Cave offers wheelchair access.
The Waitomo Caves are located in Waitomo on the West Coast of New Zealand's North Island. The nearest international airport is in Auckland. The city is roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) north of the caves, or 2.5 hours by road. Tours also run from Rotorua, 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of the caves, or two hours by road.
The Waitomo Caves are open year-round, but summer (December through February) is the most popular time to visit. It can get busy, so be sure to book in advance and opt for an early morning or late afternoon tour if you want to avoid crowds.
Along with the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, visitors can explore nearby Aranui Cave, Ruakari Cave, and Marokopa Falls. Adventurous types can get their adrenaline fix by black-water rafting, abseiling (rappelling), cave tubing (gliding along the river in a giant inner tube), or canyoning through the caves.