No photographs allowed anywhere in the cave, so go in expecting a completely different kind of visit. The glowworms will still catch you out.
Carmen S. · First-time visitor · August 2026
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Waitomo Caves Tours Reviews
What travellers said after going, shortened and set out in their own order of priorities. The criticism is here too, because a page of five-star praise tells you nothing you can plan around. Prices and departure details for each one sit with the hobbiton and waitomo caves tour listings.
What travellers said
The guide was informative and funny, and we happened to watch a fly hatch from a glowworm cocoon while we were there. He was as excited about it as we were. One to do if you are anywhere near the North Island.
Tara K. · Couple · August 2026
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Sitting in the boat in complete darkness with the worms glowing overhead is a sensation rather than a sight. The whole tour was well organised and the cave itself is beautiful.
Leanne S. · Couple · August 2026
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
The boat section is short, ten minutes or so. We walked through the cave and saw beautiful formations along with the glowworms, which made up for it. A crying infant carried through the whole chamber.
Becky M. · Family · August 2026
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
I expected a gimmick and got the opposite. The detail and effort at the movie set is remarkable, and the glowworm caves were much better than I had been led to believe.
David G. · First-time visitor · August 2026
Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
Our guide was a local who knew New Zealand history, Maori history and film history. The Hobbiton and Waitomo caves guides were just as good.
Carolina M. · Couple · August 2026
Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
Our driver-guide talked us through New Zealand the whole way down and found hobbit costumes for photographs at the end. The children have not stopped talking about the caves since.
Priscilla W. · Family · August 2026
Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch
A fantastic day with both the movie set and the Waitomo glowworm caves. It is a long day, but absolutely worth it, and Hobbiton stands up even if you have never seen the films.
Varvara V. · Couple · August 2026
Hobbiton & Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour with Lunch from Auckland
Ruakuri was quieter and more intimate than we expected. It ended up being our favourite of the two caves, and the guides at both were excellent.
Jenny C. · Couple · February 2026
Waitomo Glowworm & Ruakuri Twin Cave Experience - Small Group Tour From Auckland
Great caves, but with a small group you spend a lot of the day being driven between them. The listing said seven and we were back in Auckland by four.
Justin P. · Couple · January 2026
Waitomo Glowworm & Ruakuri Twin Cave Experience - Small Group Tour From Auckland
A long drive, but seeing both the Waitomo and the Ruakuri caves in one day was worth it. The glowworm cave was everything it promised, and Ruakuri was the surprise.
Terri O. · Couple · January 2025
Waitomo Glowworm & Ruakuri Twin Cave Experience - Small Group Tour From Auckland
Seven hours in total and about fifteen minutes of glowworms. If the caves are the reason you are going, this is not the way to see them.
A traveller · Solo traveller · December 2025
Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms
There are stairs and the cave visit is short, but it is beautiful and magical. I have done it twice and would recommend it.
Ana B. · Repeat visitor · March 2025
Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms
Useful warning from the guides: photographs are not allowed in the caves. The driver knew the area well and the commentary made the transfer itself worth doing.
Dawn N. · Solo traveller · February 2026
Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour (One Way)
It is a full day and there is a good deal of walking, so choose your footwear accordingly. The glowworm caves were the highlight and the guide was knowledgeable.
Fred M. · First-time visitor · August 2026
Auckland to Waitomo Glowworms, Kiwi House & Blue Springs Day Tour
Our guide's own knowledge as a New Zealander made the day feel less like a tour and more like being shown around by someone who lives there. The caves themselves are worth the drive on their own.
William L. · Small group · September 2025
From Auckland: Spellbound, Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small Group Tour
We went off season and had both places almost to ourselves. The buffet lunch at Hobbiton was excellent and the Waitomo caves were quiet.
Lorri M. · Couple · June 2026
Small-Group Hobbiton and Waitomo Day Tour with Lunch from Auckland
The caves were good and worth seeing. Hobbiton was the part of the day everyone talked about afterwards.
Annie H. · Couple · May 2026
Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch
Worth doing, but be aware this is a private tour and the listing did not make that obvious. It is about two and a half hours each way from Auckland, and the guide was a joy to spend the day with.
Monique D. · Private group · April 2026
A magical day tour : Hobbiton, Blue Springs, and Waitomo Caves
We chose the Ruakuri Cave walk instead of the boat tour and the driver was happy to work around it. A fantastic day out of Auckland.
Paige H. · Private group · December 2025
Waitomo Caves Private Driver for Tour
Depending on the season your small group can end up close to a private tour, which makes it better value than it looks. The glowworm caves were spectacular and Te Puia was fascinating.
Danielle J. · Solo traveller · May 2026
Waitomo Caves & Rotorua + Te Puia Small-Group Tour from Auckland
Over eight hours in the van and the guide spent most of it talking to one passenger. The rest of us had to ask for commentary.
Steven C. · Small group · February 2025
Auckland: Rotorua Māori Village, Waitomo Caves & Lunch
Well organised small-group day and a picture-perfect afternoon at Hobbiton. Great to get a proper glimpse of the glowworms in the caves as well.
Nicholas Y. · Couple · July 2026
Hobbiton Movie set & Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour From Auckland
Mainly transport to and from the set, but the guide made the drive worth it and answered everything we asked. Worth every cent.
Dion W. · Couple · July 2026
Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Day Tour From Auckland
The three complaints worth reading twice
Three criticisms come up often enough to be planning information rather than grumbling. The first is length: the boat section through the grotto is short, and on the transfer tours the cave stop can feel like fifteen minutes inside a seven-hour day. If the cave is the reason you are travelling, book a tour that gives you time in it.
Travellers who did the twin-cave day are the exception: several name Ruakuri Cave as the half they remember, and it is the only tour here that reaches it.
The second is driving time. Several travellers on the small-group and private days note how much of the day is spent in the vehicle, which is unavoidable at two and a half to three hours each way from Auckland. The third is sound: the grotto carries every noise, and one family found a crying infant audible through the whole chamber.
Operator ratings, tour by tour
These are the operators’ own figures as shown on their listings on 26 August 2026, not scores this site awards. Ratings move as new reviews land.
| Tour | Operator | Rating | Reviews | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch | Auckland Scenic Tours | 4.9 | 3,081 | 11 hours |
| Hobbiton & Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour with Lunch from Auckland | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | 4.9 | 1,255 | 12 hours |
| Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour | THL - Waitomo Caves Group | 4.3 | 1,215 | 45 minutes |
| Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Tour from Auckland with Lunch | GreatSights | 4.6 | 846 | 12 hours |
| Waitomo Caves & Rotorua + Te Puia Small-Group Tour from Auckland | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | 4.8 | 755 | 13 hours |
| Hobbiton Movie set & Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour From Auckland | Auckland & Beyond Tours | 4.9 | 674 | 12 hours |
| Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Day Tour From Auckland | Auckland & Beyond Tours | 4.9 | 383 | 8 hours |
| Small-Group Hobbiton and Waitomo Day Tour with Lunch from Auckland | Bush and Beach | 5.0 | 275 | 12 hours |
| From Auckland: Spellbound, Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small Group Tour | Expedigo Tours and Travels Auckland | 4.9 | 233 | 9 hours |
| Auckland to Rotorua via Waitomo Caves Small Group Tour (One Way) | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | 4.9 | 90 | 7 hours |
| Waitomo Glowworm & Ruakuri Twin Cave Experience - Small Group Tour From Auckland | ExperienceKart | 5.0 | 44 | 11 hours |
| Auckland to Waitomo Glowworms, Kiwi House & Blue Springs Day Tour | Expedigo Tours and Travels Auckland | 4.7 | 41 | 12 hours |
| Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua & Taupo 2-Day Tour from Auckland | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | 5.0 | 37 | 2 days |
| A magical day tour : Hobbiton, Blue Springs, and Waitomo Caves | Sunny Tour | 4.9 | 24 | 12 hours |
| Auckland: Rotorua Māori Village, Waitomo Caves & Lunch | Expedigo Tours and Travels Auckland | 4.6 | 22 | 12 hours |
| Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms | FlexiToursNZ | 4.3 | 22 | 7 hours |
| Waitomo Caves Private Driver for Tour | Flylink Services | 5.0 | 17 | 6 hours |
Ratings and review counts are the operators’ own figures, taken from the listing beside the score rather than from a meta description.
Book the one that suits you
Every tour here refunds in full up to 24 hours before departure, so a provisional date costs nothing to hold.
Read next: the questions people ask before booking · hours and the check-in rule · Waitomo Caves Tours for every price.