Okohua Glowworm Cave Tour

Once in a lifetime experience with a fantastic company and a great guide/ Geff G-man! who was friendly, professional and patient from the first hello! He really looked after us all, took great photos, explanations where needed, pointing out certain hazards, terrible singing voice but great sense of humour! The caving, tubing and swimming were fantastic and it was fascinating to see so many glow worms. Don’t bother going with any other company, these guys are the best AND, there’s a hot tub at the end!!

Geoff our guide was fantastic, I would highly recommend the company very professional and a fantastic experience.

This was a 10/10 experience if you’re in New Zealand it’s very worth visiting. The guides Cristina and Alex were super friendly and we felt safe going into the caves with them! The caves are so fun to see and there’s lots of options to do some more narrow spaces or not which is nice depending on how you deal with caves! The glow worms are amazing, would love to visit again.

Absolutely fabulous! We never need to see glow worms again as it will never be as magical as this experience was! As an older couple 56-62 it was a work out but enjoyable. Alex our guide was fantastic. Definitely worth the money and would recommend it

Absolutely magical. Christina and John were amazing guides. This surpassed my expectations and was a once in a lifetime experience. It was a great mix of swimming, tubing, and climbing. I will absolutely be coming back. Worth every penny and more!

Reserva verificada The caving experience was amazing! Kristina is super dedicated, professional and patient. She guided us through the cave like nothing and made it look easy. Also worth mentioning that we had trouble with our rental car and it was impossible for us to arrive on time but they offered to wait for us and they did. We are super happy with the whole experience! Leer menos

Amazing experience!! We did this last minute due to bad weather & it’s become the highlight of the North Island for us! The guide Vaughn was a legend & full of knowledge. The cave experience was amazing… mix of floating, swimming (paddling), caving and watching glow worms in the dark… all finished off with a soak in a hot tub. Excellent experience!

This was everything I wanted it to be and more!!!! I was nervous going in, but right from the start the staff puts you at ease with how professional and friendly they are. Our guide, Geoff, with a G! took great care of us, making sure we were ok every step of the way. I am not in the best shape, it wasn't easy be any means, but he was encouraging and patient and I am so happy we did this. The Hot tub soak was the perfect ending to rejuvenate my dead muscles! If your scared, there are options for the really tight spaces so don't worry! Do it anyway!

Amazing! The small group experience was beyond what we expected. The entire staff were professional and personable. Made us all feel safe and confident. So glad we chose this over the big tour group or dry walking tour. This experience will be worth every minute. They even took pictures for free! We can't say enough positive things about this team. Don't get worried during the drive up, just take your time and be assured that you're about to have the experience of a lifetime.

An absolute must! This was a full experience where we not only got to see LOADS of glow worms but we got a bit of adventure too. Jamie was an incredible guide. Knowledgable, patient and super professional, she made us feel safe and confident every step of the way. Spoiler (if you need one): You get to swim in (cold) water and float under a milky way of glow worms, you get to climb through the cave, you get to choose rather challenging and difficult paths if you feel confident enough and jump off to the water with floaties that you then use to float down the cave. The hot pool at the end makes this a perfect ending to an incredible experience. The caves are really well taken advantage of in a very sustainable way ❤️.

Myself and my partner thoroughly enjoyed this epic adventure and were guided by Jamie. She was a fantastic guide, extremely knowledgable, utterly professional and we had a great laugh. The cave itself was magical and will be something we will always remember.

There’s a reason this experience has nothing less than 5 stars cause it truly lives up to the hype (and more). This was such a phenomenal experience for us as a group to explore caving and get closer to nature. John and his team are absolute professionals and he made sure that we were safe and well taken care off. Especially loved the hot drink break half way through the experience and loved learning about glowworms and cave formations. If you’re ever in New Zealand and looking for adventure, this has got to be on your list!!

The experience was absolutely fantastic. Would recommend to anyone.

This was the highlight of my northern island trip. The drive up alone was stunning, and the excursion was absolutely amazing. Really fun, adventure and the guide Jamie did a phenomenal job leading us through and making the experience unforgettable. Gorgeous views at the end while warming up in the hot tub was an awesome way to end the day. Definitely worth the money to book a private tour with them.

More than expected with this experience, not just floating around. Climbing through the caves was an amazing activity! Jamie was very good with explaining and working with all our different levels of fitness and anxieties.

This was amazing. You hike, you climb, you swim, you crawl, you tube all to get down the cave. We hiked and tubed a few places in the dark. We all got a turn to lead and time to explore areas of the cave. Plus we learned. The amount of natural glowworms is unreal and it was truly beautiful. You'll be cold in May but not as cold as you think, they give you gear. Jamie, our guide, did a great job with everyone and was so friendly and respectful. You must book this!!!!

I was so nervous driving to the start of the tour. But the staff were reassuring and confident. Once I got down that ladder, all nerves disappeared. Christina was a great guide. It was as if she had memorised the placement of every rock in those caves. It was an awesome experience.

Amazing experience! Truly challenging. Staff was outstanding, unfortunately I came in a bit late but they still managed to get me in. Congrats to all involved!

10 out of 10 experience. We had such a fun time climbing and swimming our way through the cave and seeing so many glow worms. The group size is small and personable and well worth the money. If you’re thinking about booking, do it. It’s an adventure you won’t want to miss.

We would give this 6 stars if we could! We did this trip the day after what we had enjoyed what we considered our best ever adventure experience (white water rafting on the Tongariro) but this tour matched it! Safety was paramount from the beginning and Vaughan was an outstanding guide - calm, reassuring and clear in all his instructions throughout the tour, which was critical for us as one of us is pretty claustrophobic and was very nervous about the experience. However, we were both able to fully enjoy the tour as we were carefully guided and given options to match our appetites for ‘tightness’ at key points. Vaughan gave us great information on the caves themselves and also on the glow worms. As exhilarating and enjoyable as the caving was, it can scarcely compare the life-affirming experience of silently contemplating the glow worms in the cave and gliding beneath them on an inner tube. Also, the changing facilities are great and the hot tub was the perfect way to recover after the exertions of the trip. Thank you to Vaughan and all at Okohua caves for sharing this magical place and doing it so splendidly.

Fantastic experience from start to finish!! We originally were going to book the other one but are so glad we chose this outfitter!! Love that it is a family business:) Brand new everything: wetsuits, showers, hot tubs! The team and our guide were excellent and they keep their group sizes small and much more personal. You can tell the pride they have in sharing their knowledge of the land, respecting the ecology and the glow worms. Highly recommend the Waitomo Experience!

Great activity, well supported and wonderfull glow worms. What I find different with the Waitomo labyrinth is that the glow worms are closer so you enjoyed them more. More stalagmites and stalactites. Photos are free, wet suits almost new and the cedar pool at the end really enjoyable. Be aware that it is more physical and narrow then the black labyrinth. You do have to walk to the caves and walk up a hill at the end of the experience. The road to get to the Waitomo experience is slightly narrow and on gravel. You also have to go down a ladder for about 8m. The group are smaller with the Waitomo experience giving you a more personal tour. Our tour guide was fantastic « Christina », she encouraged us, push us a bit and we felt 200% safe. What a wonderfull experience. If you are fit enough then do take this tour. If you enjoyed the black labyrinthe in the past, then try this one, you will not regret it.

We booked this experience after booking a stay at a holiday home on the nearby family farm (who also own the caves) and we are so glad we did. This was a fantastic ‘bucket list’ experience that we will never forget. Vaughn was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable, humorous and made us feel safe throughout the whole tour. We are a couple in our mid-fifties with fairly good fitness levels and we managed the tour with no problems. The fact that there are only 6 people per tour and only two tours per day makes the experience much more personal and it’s good to know that keeping the number of visitors low lessens the impact of disturbance for the glowworms in the caves. The facilities, equipment and safety briefings were all of a high standard, I wouldn’t hesitate to have this experience again or to recommend to others

Great tour which I would highly recommend. Excellent guide who navigated us with care through the cave and gave us lots of information about geology and glowworms. Small group made it very intimate with float under a glow worm ceiling a highlight. Hot tubs at the end in pouring rain were great fun.

I was really impressed with the guide and the safety, checking that everyone was comfortable doing the activities and dealing with a member of the group who was not a confident swimmer. Concerns on tight squeezes were dealt with with alternative routes clearly thought through. A truly magnificent experience which was managed in a really professional way.

Very well organized. Easy to find. It was extremely fun experience with just good amount of excitement and physical challenge. Very well guided. Group size (just 6 of us) made it feel like a private tour. We can absolutely recommend, thsnk you!

Easily up there with the best cave experiences in Waitomo. I tried the more established cave tour operation nearby the next day and honestly, if I could do it over, I would make this my first choice. Small groups, not difficult for anyone with a normal level of fitness and mobility. Floating silently through the caves under a sky of glowing stars felt unreal and guide Christina was knowledgeable and warm which made the whole experience even more special. Perfectly paced, well organized, and deeply memorable. 10/10 would do again. The only sad part is eventually you have to get out the Hot Tub :) Cheers, guys

No for the faint of heart! It has challenges but the staff are so good with instructions and they made the experience unique and memorable.

It was amazing. We never did something like this before, but we really enjoyed it. Olli was an ecxcellent tour guide and made the whole experience perfect. The glowworms are beautiful and its impresive to learn how nature works. The caves are so impresive as they are just like nature made them. Beautiful. Thanks for the warm drink and the snack. I cant say which part i like the most they are all really cool. An adventure we will never forget

Caving on an accessible level trough the okohua cave. You'll have a great time, have many great ways to see the cave and the glowworms (I won't spoil it, just experience it yourself) Be aware; plan this as the last activity in New Zealand, all other experiences just cannot match this.

I must admit if I'd known exactly what I was going to do I probably would have chickened out, but boy I'm glad I didn't! It was amazing, Christina our guide was lovely and helped guide us through these wondrous caves. The wet suits were thick and comfortable, it was challenging for me and the drink and chocolate half way through was very much welcomed. Thanks for another unique NZ experience.

Unforgettable experience through the caves on Xmas eve 2025. Out guide, John, Was great. He was able to tailor the adventure to accommodate an inexperienced swimmer. The cave layout, the rock jumps, the floats in the dark gazing up on the glow worms, the narrow crawls - everything was spooky perfect. Highly recommend. Note that there is a ~5km unpaved road to get to the location, so make sure you have the right rental for this.

This was the best cave tour we have ever done and we have done quite a few (in the US). Of course the glow worms were the highlight, but this would have been a fantastic caving adventure even if they didn't have glowworms. Ollie was our guide and he was great and is actually related to the land owners so he has been exploring this cave since he was a child. They only recently opened it to tourists which is why you can't find much information about it on the Internet. This is a somewhat strenuous tour and you will be wading or even swimming through most of it. The private tour format made it extra special for my family. I cannot recommend this enough!

Johnny was our phenomenal guide for this epic adventure through the caves. We ended up having a private tour with only the guide, our 12 yr. old girl and 14 yr. old boy, my husband and I when there was a late cancelation. It is on private land, owned by a local family, and Ollie was so helpful in accommodating our booking so that we didn't have to stress and could enjoy the full NZ experience!! We felt absolutely safe throughout swimming, tubing, jumping off ledges and being pulled through the darkness on tubes while we gazed at thousands of glowworms! That water is COLD but refreshing! Hankful for all the wetsuits and for the cedar hot tub soak at the end! Johnny absolutely made a unique journey for us allowing us to crawl through tight spaces and slide through the caves in water. We made it extra adventurous after we lost my kid's gumboot.! But he made the experience memorable despite thr hiccup! (Make sure those boots fit tight) The boots get heavy with water so plan for a good adrenaline workout that's good for the soul and the hammies! We absolutely recommend this Waitamo experience with this team! 10 outta 10 for friendliness, customer service and memory making caving! We've explored caves all over the world and this was our favorite tour yet! Mahalo! Kia ora!

Family from Nelson NZ, Arizona USA &Brazil did it. Epic way to spend an afternoon, Ollie, Vaughan and Kristina were fantastic! Natural wonder and a must do when in the North Island!

It was great Ollie are guide was amazing It’s a must do. The Glow worms are very spectacular. It’s nice too because it’s a small group.

My husband and I had an amazing adventure with The Waitomo Experience. Our guide, Ollie, was knowledgeable, kind, and professional. He outfitted us with great gear, and we stayed surprisingly warm throughout the tour. He also captured photos along the way and shared them with us immediately afterward. As an amateur photographer, I am usually busy recording everything, so it was a treat to be fully present and immersed in the moment. Hearing the story of how his father and a friend discovered Okohua Cave made the experience even more special. Ollie ensured we were always comfortable and never pushed beyond our limits. We chose The Waitomo Experience because it felt more intimate and off the beaten path—and it absolutely delivered. We had the cave entirely to ourselves and saw countless glowworms. Ending the tour with a soak in the cedar hot tub was a nice finishing touch. An exceptional and truly unique experience. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Outstanding Waitomo Experience We absolutely loved our Waitomo adventure yesterday — what an incredible experience from start to finish. The set-up is fantastic and impressively professional, especially considering the business is new this year. The location itself is stunning, and it was heartening to learn that the cave is on the family farm where the owners grew up. It adds a really special, personal touch. Communication beforehand was excellent, with prompt and clear emails. When we arrived, Olly welcomed us warmly. He was knowledgeable, reassuring, and genuinely attentive to members of our group who weren’t as confident. He explained everything clearly, never rushed us, and created a relaxed, supportive atmosphere the whole way through. The onsite facilities are great — clean toilets, hot showers, and even lovely shower gel provided. There are free lockers for your belongings, which is super handy. All you need to bring is your swimsuit, a towel, socks (highly recommended!), and a sense of adventure. Oh and the Cedar hot tubs to relax in at the end - what a treat! A lovely surprise was that Olly also took photos for us during the experience (as cameras aren’t allowed in the cave). Even better, he sent them to us right away after the tour — completely free of charge. Such a nice touch. The experience itself was fantastic. We suited up in wetsuits, jackets, helmets with torches, and gumboots (all provided), then took a short walk to the cave entrance. From there, we climbed down a sturdy 7-metre ladder — safely with a rope around us — and immediately saw glowworms as soon as we reached the bottom. A magical start! Throughout the tour, we walked through ankle-deep water, chest high water, explored drier sections of the cave, clambered over rocks, slid down a few on our bums, ducked beneath stalactites, and even wriggled on our stomachs through a narrow gap that opened into a pool on the other side — such a cool moment. The cave varied between wide, soaring chambers and fun narrow passages, keeping everything exciting but never intimidating. As the cave deepened and darkened, we reached the chest-deep water where we floated along using a rope for support. At no point did we feel unsafe — Olly kept a constant eye on us, and the small group size (maximum of six) made the experience wonderfully personal. Several times, we switched off our lights completely. Sitting in total darkness as our eyes adjusted and thousands of glowworms slowly appeared all around us was truly special. Olly shared fascinating insights into their life cycle and also interesting facts about the cave formations and history, and answered all our questions with enthusiasm. About halfway through, we were given tubes (rubber rings). You could jump backwards into the water in them — great fun — or simply ease yourself in from the side. We linked together like a long chain and floated gently through the cave, headlamps off, watching the glowworms overhead. It was silent, peaceful, and utterly magical. We had such a good time. While the experience isn’t overly strenuous (we’re middle-aged and reasonably active), you do need an adventurous spirit and some confidence in water and enclosed spaces. We stayed surprisingly warm, apart from slightly chilly feet — socks definitely help — and the hot drink and piece of chocolate halfway through were a very welcome treat. All in all, this was an excellent experience — one we wholeheartedly recommend and hope to return to again soon. Jemma & Grant ZigZag Tours

Very fun and adventurous activity. It was so much fun exploring the caves and the glowworm sightings exceeded my expectations. Great company to book with!

The most amazing experience of caving! Spectacular glow worms lighting up the caves in their natural environment. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and experienced. He led us safely through the incredible passages and waterways. Was nice to stop for a hot drink and chocolate. Good pace and fun to float in tyre tubes and buoyant wetsuits. Loved every minute of this experience, well worth every cent. 100% recommend.

Loved the tour. Our gide Vaughan did a great job at making everyone comfortable and could tell a lot about the glow worms, caves and everything we found on our way. Would definitely recommend it!

Had an amazing time here, Beautiful scenery just to get to the place and the caves and glow worms were stunning. The guides were very knowledgeable and I always felt safe. Wasn't sure how small some of the spaces would be, but Ollie the owner, always checked with us first and explained what was coming up. Small group sizes keep it really personal, with enough time to stop and look around and enjoy it. Would highly recommend this.

Absolutely recommendable! The tour was perfectly organized, and our guide was not only highly experienced but also took amazing photos of us. We learned so many fascinating facts about the cave and the glowworms while enjoying the perfect mix of fun, action, and interesting insights. The hot tub at the end was the perfect finishing touch to an unforgettable experience. Definitely 5 stars – a must-do!

We had an absolutely fantastic time with Waitomo Experience! The tour was the perfect mix of action, fun, and fascinating information. Everything was so well organized, and our guide made the whole adventure unforgettable. After all the excitement, relaxing in the hot tub with such an amazing view was the perfect way to end the day. If you’re in Waitomo, don’t miss this tour – highly recommended!

The Okohua Glowworm Cave adventure was incredible! Exploring underground with thousands of glowworms lighting the way felt magical, and the guides made the whole experience both safe and exciting. Finishing the tour in the cedar hot tub under the trees was the perfect way to relax and take it all in. The small private group only 4 of us made the experience super special with no rush and plenty of time to explore the cave properly!

Unforgettable Experience – 10/10! Incredible adventure with The Waitomo Experience! Ollie and Vaughan were amazing guides – friendly, knowledgeable, and made me feel completely safe. Stunning cave formations, magical glow worms, and thrilling tubing through underground rivers. Loved every second. Bucket list item: ✅ Would do it again tomorrow!