From Auckland: Spellbound, Waitomo Glowworm Cave Small Group Tour

The drive through the beautiful New Zealand countryside is quite long, but Ali made the travel time fly by. He was incredibly professional, friendly, and welcoming from the moment he picked us up. He is genuinely well-informed and kept us engaged by sharing his extensive local knowledge, history, and great commentary along the way.

Amazing. Small group, beautiful scenery, personal experience, great information, considerate and kind guides, had a great time. The caves are so neat! Unique experience learning about the glow worms.

Amazing tour, caves were beautiful! Doug was the best tour guide, very knowledgeable, lovely and an amazing singer!! Would highly recommend!

Shoutout Doug the tour guide made the experience quality

Had an amazing experience with Doug. He was super knowledgeable, friendly, and an excellent photographer! Getting to see the glow worms in such a unique setting without the crowds was phenomenal. Thank you, Doug, and Spellbound tours!

The tour included 2 caves to see glowworms, 2 stops for delicious food, and a fantastic tour guide - David. David was on time with pickup at our hotel, a 4th generation New Zealand native who has extensive knowledge of New Zealand, and was sharing information during our drive. The tour group was small, 7 people and the van was comfortable and great to see the countryside too. The glowworms and caves were most unique and the entire day was most excellent.

A bit of a drive but well worth it. The boat ride was great as well. The guide was very informative as well as the driver.

Had an amazing experience at the caves and overall! Steven was very knowledgeable and funny always kept the group entertained. Would highly recommend it’s an experience you can’t miss!

The pick up driver was very good and well prepared with snacks and drink and in telling us about Auckland’s history along the way. The tour guy in the cave was excellent in preparing us to every details thoroughly in explanations about the cave formation and the life of the glowing worms as well as with hot cocoa and coffee and cookies at the end of the tour. Strongly recommended.

The caves were very cold. Dress accordingly. Doug was a fantastic guide, and made the experience very interesting.

It's a unique and spectacular experience, something new even for those who have already travelled a lot like myself.

This was a magical experience, we got to see a amazing place that honestly felt like something out of the movies. On top of all that the guides we had were amazing, they do a great job giving details about New Zealand and how the caves are formed. It also helps that the group size is small. Overall a magical experience you should definitely try.

What a great day trip to the Glowworm Caves. Our guide, Ali, was well informed and very friendly with great local knowledge which he shared on the way. The caves were a mystical experience and the local guide for the caves was terrific. Long day with lots of travel time but really worth the effort. I would recommend this trip.

The image used in your advertisement is AI . It is ver misleading to the customers which I don’t find ethically accurate

This experience was better than we expected. Not only do you get great, non-rushed cave time, the glow worms are beyond interesting and beautiful. You also go through a second cave system (without glow worms) that is really cool as well. The guide at the cave was knowledgeable and passionate about the caves and their history. Our guide that drove us from Auckland to the caves (Jaime) was kind, funny and helpful, giving great commentary about the areas we were traveling through. He even had helpful recommendations on what to do and where to eat for the rest of our stay in Auckland. Highly recommend this tour - the drive to and from the caves was just as stunning as the caves themselves. The small tour group sizes are also appreciated. Don't hesitate - book it! (But also bring a warm jacket....the caves are chilly!)

Pickup and driver Syeve wete just lovely. Froendly and knowledgable. Really funny too. Spellbound Fin was the best. I wasn't feeling great so Fin still took the tour but was looking out for me. That level of service by all is just outstounding. Thankyou for an amazing day.

The experience itself was great but our tour guide Steve gave it a personal touch. Can’t fault the organisation or pick up

This experience was better than we expected. Not only do you get great, non-rushed cave time, the glow worms are beyond interesting and beautiful. You also go through a second cave system (without glow worms) that is really cool as well. The guide at the cave was knowledgeable and passionate about the caves and their history. Our guide that drove us from Auckland to the caves (Jaime) was kind, funny and helpful, giving great commentary about the areas we were traveling through. He even had helpful recommendations on what to do and where to eat for the rest of our stay in Auckland. Highly recommend this tour - the drive to and from the caves was just as stunning as the caves themselves. The small tour group sizes are also appreciated. Don't hesitate - book it! (But also bring a warm jacket....the caves are chilly!)

Our guide, Jason, was so kind and thoughtful that even traveling with a child who doesn't speak English, we were able to enjoy the tour with complete peace of mind. The glowworms seen from the boat were so beautiful and magical—it was truly an unforgettable experience. Thank you so much, Jason, for giving us such a wonderful day!

The Tour is fantastic! We left Auckland at exactly 7:45am had our breakfast along the way around 9am and finally arrived at our destination around 11am. It's amazing experience to see in reality those glowworms while riding the boat in total darkness on the first cave and we enjoy as well walk inside the second cave. At around 2pm we have our lunch at Waitomo and head back to Auckland and we're in our Hotel at 6pm. Our driver and tour guide is very knowledgeable and keep us abreast of our tour as well as NZ events and history.

It wasn’t too strenuous. I've never seen anything like it before. The cave guide and Driver were both excellent. The van was new and comfortable.

A super worthwhile experience! The caves were beautiful, guides (both in the van and in the caves) were super knowledgeable and entertaining, and the convenience of being picked up in downtown Auckland and not needed to worry about transportation was perfect.

An impressive tour throughout! Our driver, Jamie, the cave tour operators, Kirin and Shane, were very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. The Waitomo cave glowworms are a must see!

Had a fantastic day tour in Auckland with Liam today! His energy was absolutely infectious, and he had a gift for storytelling that brought New Zealand's history and culture to life in the most engaging way. He was incredibly friendly throughout the day, making sure everyone felt included and entertained. We learned so much, and left with a much deeper appreciation for this beautiful country. Definitely would recommend Liam@Expedigo to friends when they visit Auckland. 😊

In March, we went on a tour to the Waitomo Caves with David, and he did everything to make the trip memorable and comfortable. On the drive over, he entertained us with interesting stories of history and science. We also stopped at a bakery that was great. For the actual caves, a different guide took us through, and the glow worm cave was simply out of this world! What an incredible experience! I did a fair bit of research in choosing which location to see the glow worm caves, and I am so happy with this choice! On the way back, David took us to the Fat Kiwi, which was a delicious lunch spot. As a driver and tour guide, he made us feel safe and well cared for during the tour. I would highly recommend visiting such an incredible spot with this tour company!

The Tour was wonderful. Aaron was great and he explained everything in details. We had a fantastic day tour. Thanks

We are glad the company was kind enough to go for the trip even with only 5 of us in a minibus that large enough to fit 14. Aaron picked us up right on time. His restaurant recommendation is excellent. Thanks again Aaron !

Aaron, our guide and driver was so knowledgeable about New Zealand. He gave a great commentary during the drive both there and back. The glow worm cave was absolutely amazing. Didn’t know what to expect but the experience was one of our favorite on this trip. The cave tour guide was also knowledgeable and amazing to work with. Definitely recommend this tour.

We had a wonderful day and were indeed “spellbound” by the gloworms. Deane, our guide was very kind, patient and friendly. He ensured that we were comfortable and didn’t rush us at any place, thus making it an overall enjoyable trip.

Beyond my expectations. Both our guides, Wayne and Ross, knew their subjects well and had a good sense of humor. The setting, the glow worms and the cave experience were amazing.

This tour goes to Spellbound Glowworm Caves for a 2 1/2 hour tour that includes the glowworm cave and a second cave. You spend a lengthy time experiencing the glowworms. The second cave has a fascinating history. This is not a flashy, touristy destination, rather it is a beautiful experience with genuine people. Our driver, Wayne, was fantastic - pointing out sites along the long drive. We stopped for coffee at a bakery in the morning and in a small town for a bite after the caves. This tour by this company is well worth the drive. The landscape views alone are amazingly beautiful.

Spellbound were an amazing Glow work operator. My elderly parents 80 and 84 were amazed at how they were treated. The smaller group allowed for a better experience. They have access to an amazing cave on a private property which made the experience all the more special. 100% would recommend this company

Aaron was great, punctual for picking us up in the various spots and was super knowledgable on everywhere we went. The tour itself was very well managed, thanks a million! Would highly recommemd!

This was very much worth the drive to and from Auckland. Aaron provided detailed information along the way. Our group got to see not one but two caves. The glowworm caves were amazing. The tour guide at the Waitomo caves was also very informative. I can't recommend this tour enough.

Fantastic tour with knowledgeable guides, some walking, but can opt to be driven, glow worm experience is mesmerizing and so peaceful

This tour was absolutely fantastic! Aaron and Shane were our 2 guides for the day and they were both brilliant! They were so friendly and knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information with the group. The journey to Waitomo and back from Auckland was long, but certainly not boring. There were comfort breaks along the way and Aaron pointed out lots of landmarks. The other guests on the tour were also great to chat to. The caves themselves were spectacular! The glowworms absolutely covered the ceiling and walls of the cave. It was like being in Avatar world. The short boat ride was mesmerising and Shane was more than happy to take and share photos. I also loved that there was a section where photography was not allowed, as this really made the group fully immerse themselves and appreciate the nature and amazing surroundings. The second cave was also super interesting with some incredible formations. Overall a fantastic day out. I recommend the tour to anyone who doesn't have a car and is based in Auckland, who wants to experience something truly beautiful and unique

Our guide was very friendly and supportive. You might want to bring a small towel to wipe off water drops that fall on your head or clothes.

The Spellbound cave experience is unique. We saw hundreds and thousands of glow worms on the cave ceiling. The tour includes a 20-min boat ride, with glow worms above us shining like blue stars, the experience felt surreal. The cave tour guide showed us how to take pictures and he also took pictures of us with the glow worms. Highly recommend this tour. However, I would only give one star to the driver who took us to the cave, his name is Dean. The drive was long - 2.5 hours one way. He did not tell us any fun facts at all. The whole time he chatted with a female traveler sitting next to him. When he talked to her, he often turned his head and looked at her, which made me nervous. I hope he would keep his eyes on the road the whole time. Maybe he was distracted by the chatting, he made a wrong turn and then he went to a wrong place to pick up people, which costed a 30-min time waste and we ended up being late for the cave tour.

I had a great time. Amazing day trip from Auckland, and David was an excellent guide. I really enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience. From Aaron's picking us up and sharing so much along the way, including when we stopped for coffee and a bathroom break, to Spellbound's Peter guiding us through the caves and sharing so much detailed information about the worms, how to take good pictures, and more. We got picked up at 7:45, and were back by 5:30, so it is a long day, but very well done in every aspect. There was water and snacks on the bus out there, a stop between caves for coffee or tea and cookies, and then a stop to walk around and get some lunch or fruit at the fruit stand, all with bathroom stops at the same time as well. All went well, never felt like we were somewhere too long or too short. The only thing I guess could serve as a warning is that the 11 passenger bus is ok, but the seats are fairly small, so if you are large in stature, you will be uncomfortable, but not terribly so. With driving that much, it could have been worse, and the views out the big windows were great.

An excellent experience. Make sure you wear non slip shoes. Two fantastic tour guides. We learned so much and travelled with a friendly interesting group of people. It is a long day so perhaps not suited to very young children or people who might have difficulties walking over uneven surfaces in the dark. Seeing all the tiny glowworms lighting up the dark is just magical. Learning about their life cycle was really interesting and gave the tour perspective and meaning.

Dean & Flynn gave us an Awesome Day! The ride through the country side was fun, but the 2 caves were Outstanding! The escorted boat ride in the dark by glow worm lights is Unforgettable! Seeing the fresh water eels was pretty cool too! We were even given snacks & water on the roadway & cookies & coffee, tea, or hot chocolate between the caves.The stops for food, restrooms & to stretch our legs was appreciated. We Highly Recommend this excursion!

Great day seeing glowworms & a limestone cave, really good food at the food stops, relaxing & interesting tour

I went to Spellbound today and it was such an amazing experience. The glowworms were absolutely stunning — they looked just like a galaxy spread across the ceiling, so peaceful and magical. The whole tour felt calm and immersive, and the cave atmosphere made the glowworms even more beautiful. The van pick‑up was perfectly on time, and the ride was really comfortable. The driver (David) was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and shared lots of interesting facts along the way, which made the trip even better. Everything felt well‑organised from start to finish. The booking app was very easy to use too, so the whole process was smooth and stress‑free. Overall, it was a fantastic day and definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

This was a don’t miss tour! Every bit of it was absolutely incredible! Our drivers and guide were beyond wonderful and I’m so happy that we did it!

This is well worth the ride to the caves! Liam our guide was passionate about the country and his heritage. The tour in the cave was absolutely wonderful and one of the best we’ve taken in New Zealand! Highly recommend.

Finn did a great job of explaining about the caves and found us some interesting animals. We saw a long finned eel and also cave crickets. Let’s not forget about why we came GLOW WORMS!!! It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. This is a MUST DO when in New Zealand

The tour was amazing and the tour guys were very informative. Just make sure you take good walking /hiking shoes. I will recommend this tour.

It’s so much better in person than the photographs. Pictures do not do it justice. I didn’t think I would enjoy the walking portion outside of the caves, but I enjoyed ALL of the tour!