Auckland: Rotorua Māori Village, Waitomo Caves & Lunch

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Auckland, New Zealand

12 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

It can be tough knowing how to learn about authentic Maori life when you’re planning a trip by yourself. Instead, join this full-day small-group tour and head to the Rotorua Maori Village from Auckland. Discover ancient traditions and learn about Maori life, coupling your adventure with a visit to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves to bask in the natural wonders.

Small-group tour: Lots of chances to ask your guide questions
A chance to snap photos of Waitomo’s illuminated caverns
Includes convenient pickup and drop-off in downtown Auckland
Refuel with an included picnic lunch during the trip

What's Included

Admission to Fully Guided Tour of the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
Admission to a fully guided experience of the Whakarewarewa Maori Village
Complimentary pick up and drop off from Auckland CBD
Air-conditioned vehicle
All Fees and Taxes
Bottled water
Snacks
Lunch

Picnic style lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

- If your accommodation is not yet confirmed, we suggest selecting The SkyCity Hotel for now—you can update it later if needed! - We offer convenient pick-ups from selected hotels. If your location isn’t listed, simply choose the nearest available option and meet us there. - Pick-ups start up to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please be ready and waiting outside by then for a smooth start. - Pick-up locations are planned based on each tour and may vary by day. If there are any changes to your pick-up spot, please let us know in advance. - Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. To keep the tour on schedule, we recommend being ready 5–10 minutes early, as we are unable to wait for late arrivals. - As our hotel pickups operate from downtown CBD, guests located near the airport or South Auckland can be picked up from The Sebel, Auckland Manukau at 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau City Centre, Auckland 2104,

Itinerary

Auckland Central

3 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rotorua

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village

3 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Auckland

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Infant seats available
Stroller accessible

Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6

based on 22 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Long, Incredible Day!

Harrison_F, Feb 2026

Our guide Wayne was phenomenal. His driving was smooth, he drove by several historical and natural sites not mentioned on the tour description as an added bonus, and was exceptionally knowledgeable when it came to NZ history and landmarks. Whakarewarewa Māori Village was eye opening. The chief/guide was has so much knowledge and passion to share. Hāngī was great! They boil the sweet corn and served it as part of the tour, but I also tried the hāngī beer pie as well. The thermal vents and geyser were spectacular and the Haka performance was nothing short of moving. From here we rendezvoused with Wayne and were off to Waitomo. The original site for the picnic lunch was thoroughly occupied. Fortunately, he already knew an alternative site. The lunch itself was a chicken Caesar wrap, chips, apple, and juice. Wayne pointed out some fun sites (giant Kiwi statues and the like) en route to Waitomo. Waitomo Caves was stunning. When you first arrive, you watch an informative video, then embark. The first leg of the experience does not allow photos or video due to sensitivity of the wildlife. The final stretch does allow photography. Honestly though, there is something romantic about such an unplugged tour into such a natural wonder. We also saw some eels, which was super cool. For both sites, you have limited but adequate time to shop. The ride home home was more quiet (people were tired) and waters & muesli bars were offered. A little more knowledge was dropped. Overall, this was a long (12+hr) journey and worth every mile & every penny.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review. We’re really pleased to hear how much you enjoyed the day and that Wayne made it even more special with his knowledge, smooth driving, and little extras along the way. It’s great to know Whakarewarewa and Waitomo both left such a strong impression, and that the long day felt worth it in the end. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again.

A great cultural experience

Andy_P, Apr 2025

The Rotorua Māori Village tour was much better than I expected. The day started with John picking us up at the hotel right on time. There were only two other people on the tour (4 total) so it was quite comfortable. John provided engaging conversation and made a few stops along the way there and back to make pit stops, see extra things and get some food. Our tour guide at the village was an older gentleman called Chief and he was absolutely perfect for the tour, a real wealth of cultural knowledge and experience who was willing to share it all in an engaging and funny way. They cook food in the hot spring and the chicken in the cafe was among the best I've ever had. After the tour we were able to walk around the village a bit to explore the different little shops there which had unique Māori items for sale (some of the best gift shops from our whole trip to NZ). The Waitomo Caves were a little less than I expected as it was a fairly short event. After a short walk through some nice, comfortable caves, you enter a boat for a short trip through the rest of the cave by water. You are not allowed to take photos in the first cave as it was once used as a burial ground, but you can take them from the boat towards the end. It is very dark and difficult to get a good shot, but I was able to get a few decent photos and videos using my iPhone. Overall a very nice day and a good way to learn about the interesting Māori culture.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you for the lovely and detailed review! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the intimate group size, John's warm hospitality, and the rich cultural experience at the Māori village with Chief. It's wonderful that the hāngī-style meal and gift shops left a great impression too! While the Waitomo Caves felt a bit brief, we’re happy the glowworm boat ride still offered some memorable moments. Appreciate you choosing us to be part of your New Zealand adventure!

Muy aburrido tour

Steven_C, Feb 2025

El conductor / guía del tour Paul, se dedicó todo el trayecto del viaje ( más de 8 horas dentro de furgoneta ) a hablar solo con una turista holandesa sentada junto a él; sin dar explicaciones del tour al resto de turistas. Teniendole que pedir varias veces que se pusiera el micrófono para que todus escucháramos las explicaciones. ( y si no que se callara porque me dolía la cabeza ) UN DESCONSIDERADO MUY POCO PROFESIONAL ( muy aburrido de tour )

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize that you felt the tour didn’t meet your expectations. We always strive to provide an engaging experience for all our guests, and we understand how important it is to feel included throughout the journey. While we appreciate your perspective, we did check with other guests on the tour, and they shared that Paul provided a lot of commentary covering different aspects of New Zealand. At times, he also engaged with individual guests who had specific questions, as is common with our small group tours. However, we understand that this may not have been your experience, and we’re sorry if this led to discomfort during the trip. Paul is one of our most experienced and well-regarded guides, and we will take your feedback into account to continue improving our services. We truly value every guest and aim to create a memorable experience for all. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again for a more enjoyable experience in the future.

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