Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour
- 3–5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
We offer two different Blackwater Rafting experiences through the Ruakuri Cave. The Black Labyrinth is the original, 3-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. You will jump off two small waterfalls (highest is 1.5 meters), float on a tube underneath an impressive display of glowworms and navigate through the cave’s natural streamway. All participants must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 45kgs. The Black Abyss is the ultimate 5-hour Blackwater Rafting tour. Abseil 35 metres into the cave and zipline across a river under a grotto of glowworms. You'll then float on a tube through the caves' natural streamway. All participants must be at least 16 years old and weigh 45kgs. An average level of fitness and mobility is required for both of our tours. It is important to understand that these tours take you into a completely natural cave environment. Please understand that your guides have final discretion of whether you will be able to participate on our tours.
Inclusions
What's included
- Complimentary hot shower
- The use of equipment such as tubes, wetsuits, boots, helmets, abseiling devices (if option chosen) and safety equipment
- Snacks
- Abseiling techniques training (Black Abyss only)
What's not
- Entry to Waitomo Cave Museum
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Towels and Toiletries for Showers
Itinerary
The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., is the check-in point for both of our Blackwater Rafting tours. From here, your guides will take you to go get geared up for your tour. Free lockers are available for your belongings.
Both of our Blackwater Rafting Tours take you through our glowworm-studded Ruakuri Cave. For those on the Black Labyrinth tour, you can expect to spend up to an hour and a half inside of the cave system. On the Black Abyss tour, participants will spend up to three hours inside the cave.
You'll arrive back at The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co., once you've completed your tour. Hot showers and hearty soup are available for you, free of charge.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5395
- 431
- 38
- 23
- 13
Ratings come from 440 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Highly recommend you go all in and do this version of glowworms viewing
Absolutely loved this experience! Great way to start off your trip in New Zealand. The water was cold but you were too busy climbing, repelling, ziplining and staring up at glowworms to care too much. They gave us hot beverages while we floated around and shared fun facts about the glowworms and also got up close to stalactites which was cool to see.
5Most Unique Experience
Floating through the dark caves with the glowworms lighting up the ceiling above us felt like being under a sky full of stars. It was exciting, a little adventurous, and something we had never experienced before. Our guides were friendly, professional, and made the whole experience fun and comfortable. Definitely a must-do when visiting New Zealand!
5Honestly, we did bungy...
Honestly, we did bungy jumping, skydiving, and this adventure. Of the three, this might be the most memorable.
5High-quality adventure
Right from the beginning I was extremely impressed. Booking tickets was easy, the warm welcome at reception when we arrived. Then the energetic guides that made the whole trip a real step up. I did this with 3 adult children, and I was finally able to get two really good, updated family pics. Highly recommend this trip to everyone.
5Worth it! Would do again!
Absolutely worth it! It was an amazing experience and would do it again! We had so much fun and it was a thrilling and beautiful experience.
5Highly recommend!
Incredible activity, my husband and I had the best time. The guides were great, appreciated the very clear instructions throughout the tour.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Departure Point: The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co, 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo 3977 Return point: Returns to original departure point
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 12 travellers
- Operated by
- THL - Waitomo Caves Group
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Your safety is our team's top priority.
- You must check in 30 minutes before the tour departs at 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves
- All Participants for the Black Abyss must be at least 16-years-old and weigh at least 45kgs.
- All Participants for the Black Labyrinth must be at least 12-years-old and weigh at least 45kgs.
- Due to high demand and limited capacity if you 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.
- Water temperature sits at around 10-15 degrees Celsius.
How it compares in Waitomo
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 13 experiences we list in Waitomo.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 13.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Waitomo
Waitomo is a village in the King Country, on limestone hills riddled with caves, where glow-worms light the cave ceilings.
Waitomo sits in rolling sheep country in the northern King Country of the North Island, about an hour's drive south of Hamilton. The name comes from Māori words for water and hole, and the limestone hills under the farmland are riddled with caves. In the best known of them, the Glowworm Cave, boats glide beneath a ceiling dotted with the blue-green lights of a glow-worm found only in New Zealand.
Top-ranked sights in Waitomo: Ruakuri Cave.
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