Go Waitomo black-water rafting (cave tubing) for a memorable adventure in the Waitomo Caves. Choose a 3-hour Labyrinth experience that takes you floating underground on an inner tube, including a small waterfall jump. Or upgrade to the 5-hour Black Abyss for an exhilarating abseil (rappel) down limestone walls; instruction and equipment included. The resident glowworms, stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you! Finish with a hot shower, soup and bagel.

Fun and exhilarating, this caving adventure will have you floating, squeezing and leaping over cascading underground waterfalls
Choose between the Labyrinth tour, a 3-hour cave tubing adventure or the 5-hour Black Abyss tour for the ultimate thrill
Includes all necessary equipment
Wetsuits and footwear will be provided

What's Included

Abseiling techniques training (if option chosen)
The use of equipment such as tubes, wetsuits, boots, helmets, abseiling devices (if option chosen) and safety equipment
Complimentary hot shower

Entry to Waitomo Cave Museum
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop off
Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co, Waitomo
585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand
Departure Point: The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co, 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo 3977 Return point: Returns to original departure point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Start your black-water tubing adventure in Waitomo. An expert guide ensures you’re properly equipped with gear — including wetsuit and inner tube — and offers some technical instruction before you descend into the underground network at Waitomo Caves.

If you choose The Labyrinth, you’ll experience walking and caving along with a small waterfall jump. Upgrade to The Black Abyss and start your invigorating journey with a rappel into the subterranean playground with your guide while suited up in helmet, boots and safety equipment. (See options below.)

Prepare to be awed by a magnificent display of glowworms in addition to stalactites and stalagmites that decorate the cavern walls as you traverse through the black water. At the end of your exhilarating journey through Waitomo’s vaulted limestone galleries, enjoy a hot shower, hearty soup and bagel.

The Labyrinth (3 Hours)Float on your inner tube through the remarkable underground river system at Waitomo Caves. Ride a stream that twists and turns through a canyon, and tumble down a hidden waterfall and rock slide before emerging into the sun-dappled Waitomo forest.

The Black Abyss (5 Hours)Those with a moderate level of fitness can up the ante on this Waitomo tubing adventure. After abseiling training and practice with your guide, you’ll rappel 121 feet (37 meters) into the black water–filled abyss. Enjoy adrenaline-fueled fun as you clamber down, float through the canyon and scramble up waterfalls before resurfacing into daylight.

The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Admission Ticket Free

Ruakuri Cave

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Due to high demand and limited capacity if you are late or miss your scheduled tour time your ticket(s) are forfeited and non refundable. New bookings will incur the full tour cost and are subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
You must check in 30 minutes before the tour departs
Please note: the minimum age for following tours are:
The Black Abyss: 16 years of age
The Labyrinth: 12 years of age

Near public transportation
Please note: the Black Labyrinth tour is a beginner level caving adventure, almost anyone can give it a go!
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Bring swimwear & a towel
All participants on this tour must weigh at least 45 kilograms
Water temperature is approximately 10 degrees Celsius
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Melissa_T

This is a very active, somewhat cold adventure. You are walking through rushing water in a cave and it's a little cold! But, the guides are terrific and very patient. The glow worms are amazing and the whole thing is quite fun. I didn't want to jump off the little waterfalls so I climbed down with the help of a guide. So, if you are not overly adventurous you can still do this tour.

Reviews

5.0

205 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 205 reviews

Fantastic tour through a magical cave

Tyler_C, Apr 2024

Fantastic tour, a colorful crew and amazing adventure through the caves, would highly recommend to anyone coming to New Zealand

Best activity on the North Island!

Lyndsea_F, Apr 2024

This was the best tour/activity we did on the North Island hands down! Our tour guides were humorous and kind (not sure of their names unfortunately but 2 guys) and can tell they loved their job! We did the 3 hour labyrinth tour and it was perfect for the fall (we went did this last week of March) bc the water is cold and I think the 5 hour tour would’ve been to much time in the cold waters. I would do the 5 hour black abyss tour in the Summer. But with this tour, you get adventure and relaxation in the same tour. It was fantastic! If you’re on the fence and are not sure, don’t hesitate, book it!

Sweet As...

Gordon_M, Apr 2024

Excellent experience, my wife was a little worried, but the staff made her feel comfortable and somehow brave. She did both jumps!

Adventure! Cold! Glow Worms!

Melissa_T, Mar 2024

Amazing experience and great guides

Luke_H, Mar 2024

Nice mix of activities, while exploring the cave system. The tour guides were helpful and informative.

Awesome adventure!

Christina_M, Mar 2024

This whole experience was AMAZING!! The guides (Callie & Ollie) were phenomenal & I was so impressed with them. A great time!

Even if you can't swim you should still go!!!

FENG_C, Mar 2024

The experience was awesome! But unfortunately our photos are somehow missing A LOT compared to other groups😓

"glowing" review

Kristin_W, Mar 2024

Fun one of a kind adventure. Tour guides were great and very passionate about their jobs. The description should note there is a fairly high level of fitness required to participate, more than it seems when reading tour description.

Excitingly peaceful

Tara_C, Mar 2024

Seriously fun and beautiful-the waterfalls we great, and the chain float through the cave with our headlamps off was fabulous 🙌🏻so peaceful and beautiful

Even better the second time!

Brennan_T, Mar 2024

The black water rafting experience was great! Our guides were very knowledgeable and made sure everyone was safe and able to get through the caves. This was actually the second time going on this experience after going on it a decade ago. I would highly recommend!

A Must-Do in Waitomo

Peter_A, Feb 2024

An amazing experience to float through the cave system and swing the glowworms in their natural environment. Our two tourguides the esteemed Lady Pippin and Lady Alana made it en exciting, informative and fun experince. Definitely recommended and worth every penny.

Femlings

Pamela_F, Feb 2024

Guys were so nice entertaining and fun thank you so Much ! They made us feel at ease and had fun .amazing

We felt very adventurous,...

Susan_M, Feb 2024

We felt very adventurous, exploring the cave on inner tubes. Our guides, Max and Birge were very pleasant and helpful. The photos were reasonably priced. The glow worm ceilings were spectacular and you could lay back on your tube and enjoy them.

Fun time with glow worms

Matthew_M, Feb 2024

This experience was phenomenal. The guides (Max and Burge) were attentive, patient, and hilarious. The walking and floating through the cave while being educated on the life cycle of a glow worm was marvelous. The guides also helped walk me through personal struggles with claustrophobia while giving me outs along the way; the caves as they described truly are like a cathedral (lots of open spaces and never anything tight) and a very memorable experience.

Well worth it

Ronald_P, Feb 2024

It was a little challenging in places, but the staff helped if needed. I’m 68 years old and by far the oldest in our group, but if your in relatively good share, this tour is for you

BLACK WAYER RAFTING

wayne_w, Jan 2024

The tour was amazing. The cave’s spectacular. Zena Chris Evie are the best you can ask for in guides. Highly recommended

So much fun

Andrew_H, Dec 2023

The highlight of our family's trip. For us it was less about the glowworms and more about the whole fun experience. Our older kids loved it. One of our guides, David, was great fun, and seemed to go out of his way to get good photos. Because of that, I thought the cost of the photos at the end was good value.

Great staff and fun trip

James_H, Nov 2023

Great trip staff was wonderful. They explained everything and made the whole party feel at ease. Glow worms were amazing

Unreal

Matthew_K, Nov 2023

Fun! Amazing! Fun challenge for all ages! So beautiful and the guides were hilarious. It’s cold and wet but the experience is what we came for!

Best tour ever

Aditi_R, Sep 2023

It's the best tour I have done till today. Totally adventurous and everything was planned so well. Surely not to miss must do.

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