Waitomo’s Hidden Gem: Small-Group Off the Beaten Track Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Waitomo, New Zealand
- 3 hours 15 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience one of the wonders of New Zealand’s natural world on this glowworm caving adventure in Waitomo. Pull on your boots and helmet before heading through the private farmland and native forest to the Mangarongapu Cave system with a local guide and small group. With your headlamp to light the way, hike around huge boulders and through shallow streams, and marvel at the millions of bright green glowworms illuminating the rocky limestone.
- Step away from the boardwalks and crowds on a more rugged tour
- All necessary equipment for comfort and safety is included
- Small group size ensures personal service
- Make your own way to the meeting point at 1199 Oparure Road, Te Kuiti, Waitomo
What's Included
- Adventure photos emailed after your tour
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Guided by a local with deep knowledge & connection
- All caving equipment & warm clothing provided
- Genuine Kiwi hospitality at its best
- See the caves just as nature intended
- Pick-up and drop-off services
- Public transportationPublic transport (not available in this area)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1199 Oparure Road, Te Kūiti 3985, New Zealand
Waitomo has lots of cave tours, which can be confusing! Don’t just follow signs to “Waitomo Caves” — as the district is large with many operators. Instead, enter 1199 Oparure Road into Google Maps and it will bring you straight to us.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Down to Earth - Waitomo Eco Tours
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not suitable for elderly or those with mobility issues — involves climbing, hills, and wading through streams.
- Maximum of 8 people per tour.
- Minimum age is 12 years.
- Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
- A reasonable/good level of fitness is required.
- NO large cameras or tripods. Phones or pocket sized cameras are welcome.
- Safety First — if flooding means we need to cancel, you’ll receive a full refund.
- Not recommended for travelers with a low level of fitness
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Melinda_H
Down to Earth Eco Cave tour in Waitomo was everything and more than I had hoped for our family of 5 (17yr to 50yr!)! There are many different types of tours which are owned by different groups. Something for everyone. I picked Down to Earth because of the extra adventure of exploring the flowing creek and climbing through the caves! We love added adventure! Heath was an excellent guide; and I loved hearing the history, and of his growing up there and exploring the caves since 4 yr old!
We loved it all, so beautiful. The glow worms are amazing too. We even saw an eel in the creek! Our guide took excellent photos for us to have! We all Highly recommend Down to Earth. NB: you do need to be able to climb through occasional small places; and stairs.
My kids asked for the challenging route and we did that! So great.
Reviews
5.0
based on 454 reviews
Camille_K, Mar 2026
This is a unique non-commercial experience for those who prefer small groups and a little side of adventure with their slice of nature. No crowds! But you will see glowworms! In fact, I saw the actual larvae and mucus strings just a few feet above me, as well as the larger constellations spread out like stars in a large cavern. But you will also walk through a beautiful verdant canyon, wade into a stream, and explore part of a private cave. My guide, Ash, was knowledgeable and helpful, offering interesting info about the glowworm life-cycle and pointing out unique stalactites and stalagmites. Boots, helmets (with lights), and warmer outerwear are provided. I felt safe but not coddled. It was an exceptional experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the 5 star review. We are so glad you enjoyed the small-group experience and the more adventurous side of seeing the glowworms.
Ash will be very happy to read your kind words. It is lovely to hear you enjoyed everything from the walk and stream wading to seeing the glowworms up close in such a natural setting. Thanks again for joining us.
Emily_S, Mar 2026
It was a bit more physical than expected but it was fun and adventurous. Ash is an entertaining guide. Gloworms were amazing. We really enjoyed it!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the 5 star review Emily. We are so glad you enjoyed the small-group tour and had fun with the more adventurous side of it.
Ash will be happy to hear your kind words, and we are pleased you loved the glowworms too. Thanks again for joining us.
Jona_M, Mar 2026
Wonderful experience, Ash is a great guide that managed to make my wife (who suffers from a slight claustrophobia) very comfortable. The caves are really fascinating and there are many magic moments. Greatly recommended if you're looking for a more intimate experience
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the 5 star review. We are so glad you both had a wonderful experience.
Thanks again for visiting us and for recommending the tour.
Lisa_S, Mar 2026
A family-run operation, Down to Earth’s personal touch and small groups make the tour a very special experience. Our guide was fantastic and the caves themselves were beyond what we imagined. A reasonable level of fitness is required to clamber over larger rocks and squeeze through tight spaces.
Melinda_H, Jan 2026
Down to Earth Eco Cave tour in Waitomo was everything and more than I had hoped for our family of 5 (17yr to 50yr!)! There are many different types of tours which are owned by different groups. Something for everyone. I picked Down to Earth because of the extra adventure of exploring the flowing creek and climbing through the caves! We love added adventure! Heath was an excellent guide; and I loved hearing the history, and of his growing up there and exploring the caves since 4 yr old!
We loved it all, so beautiful. The glow worms are amazing too. We even saw an eel in the creek! Our guide took excellent photos for us to have! We all Highly recommend Down to Earth. NB: you do need to be able to climb through occasional small places; and stairs.
My kids asked for the challenging route and we did that! So great.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much, Melinda! 😊
We’re so happy the tour was everything you hoped for — and that your whole family (17 to 50!) had a blast. It sounds like you picked the perfect adventure with the flowing creek, climbing through the caves, glowworms up close, and even an eel sighting! Heath will love hearing your kind words too, especially about the stories and local history.
Thanks again for the recommendation, and for the helpful note for future guests that you do need to be comfortable with stairs, uneven ground, and the occasional tighter spot. ✨
Joanne_L, Jan 2026
This tour/caving experience exceeded expectations. Excellent informative guide, small group, challenging passageways, and beautiful glow worms. Although I’m 65 and my partner is 70, I think one should be reasonably fit to do this tour. The guide took plenty of photos. Lovely people, fabulous landscape above and below ground. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! 😊
We’re thrilled the caving experience exceeded your expectations — and that it’s gone straight into the “great memories” category! So glad you enjoyed the small group, the more challenging passages, and those beautiful glowworms (plus the photos along the way).
Thank you as well for the helpful note for future guests — a reasonable level of fitness is definitely important for this adventure tour. We really appreciate the recommendation! ✨
Megan_Z, Nov 2025
This is the tour to take of glow worm caves! Away from the larger tour groups, you can really enjoy the views in the cave. We were lucky enough to be the only group on the tour! It is a lovely family run business. Ash was great as a guide; funny, safe, patient, and really knows his stuff. There are a lot of glow worms in the cave and you are able to take pictures. Ash also sent pictures that he took of us for free. You will need a moderate fitness level for the stairs back up to the office and for climbing over/between rocks, bending down for low hanging rocks, and wading through the stream. They even provide water, tea, and biscuits after the walk which was a nice cool down. The views from the office were so scenic and calm that I could have spent all afternoon there.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for the amazing review! 😊✨
We’re thrilled you felt this is the glowworm cave tour to take — and that you loved being away from the bigger groups so you could really soak it all in. Ash will be stoked to hear your kind words about being funny, patient, and safe — and we’re glad the free photos were a bonus too.
Thanks as well for sharing the helpful details for future guests: this is an adventure tour that needs a moderate level of fitness (stairs, rocks, low sections, and wading through the stream). And we’re so happy you enjoyed the tea and biscuits at the end — plus those peaceful farm views from the office. We really appreciate the recommendation! 💚
Megan_D, Nov 2025
This is the best tour to experience the glow worm caves with an authentic, small group, family run business!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much, Megan! 😊✨
We’re thrilled you loved the authentic small-group experience with our family-run team. Thanks so much for the lovely recommendation!
Kate_H, Nov 2025
I did expect to get a bit wet but more than once I was emerged in the river up to my hips (to be fair I am not the tallest). We were provided with a full set of clothing so it was all ok but it might be a good idea to bring a dry pair of underwear :-)
Antonios_Z, Nov 2025
Ash and Michelle are amazing hosts. The tour itself was great, Ash had great energy and went above and beyond to make the tour enjoyable for us. Afterwards, Michelle and Ash treated us to coffee and biscuits and talked with us for a good half hour. You just don't get this kind of family like experience with bigger companies. I recommend that everyone try to support these smaller businesses that put in the extra effort to make our experience as pleasant as possible.
10/10 from me, true Kiwi hospitality!
Tami_P, Oct 2025
Excellent tour with Ash, and great hosting by Michelle. Super kind and oh so fun. They provided everything you need. Uneven ground, some scrambling. Excellent!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Tami, you’ve made our day—thank you for the 5 stars! Love that Ash’s guiding, our hosting, and the proper bit of scrambling hit the sweet spot. Hope we see you back underground someday!
Jasmine_G, Sep 2025
An incredible experience! Our tour guide Ash was knowledgeable, fun and helpful for the duration of the experience. The scenery of the river through the caves is definitely a highlight. There are a couple of tight spots in the caves where you might have to be on your belly and manoeuvre your body around to get through but at no point did we think we’d get stuck. Seeing the glow worms is for about 20-30mins at the end of the tour which was also an amazing experience. Highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a more adventurous way to see the glow worms or looking to get out of their comfort zone.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Jasmine, thank you for the fantastic 5⭐! Love that Ash’s knowledge and the river-through-the-cave sections were highlights. We keep groups small, explore on foot with all gear provided, and leave unhurried time with the glowworms at the end so you can really soak it in. Appreciate the high recommendation!
Victoria_H, Aug 2025
I really wanted to do this tour but I was nervous. Ash was our guide and he was amazing! He made us feel comfortable and explained everything. We learned so much and it was so cool to go without all of the normal tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks so much, Victoria! We're so glad you pushed past the nerves — and even happier to hear Ash helped make you feel at ease. Love that you enjoyed the “not your normal tour” vibe — that’s exactly what we’re going for! 🌿😊✨
Darryl_E, Jul 2025
Our experience was fantastic, our guide Ash was a perfect blend of knowledgeable, kind, easy to talk to, and was conscious of our safety throughout the tour. Having been to similar glowworm caves in the Waitomo area before, the tour with Ash and down to earth tours was incredible and far better than anything I could have imagined.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much, Darryl! We’re so glad the tour exceeded your expectations — especially after visiting other caves in the area. Ash will be really touched by your kind words. It means a lot to hear the experience stood out for all the right reasons! 🌟
Cristina_M, Apr 2025
A unique must do experience! Our guide Ash took us to an adventurous tour down the caves, I must say the walk though the cave wasn’t easy but Ash made it easy and safe enough for everyone to participate. Trust me, the walk was so worth in the end as you get to admire the thousands of glow worms forming a night sky under the earth.
Response from Host, May 2025
Hi Cristina,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an amazing time on our Off the Beaten Track tour. Ash will be stoked to hear your feedback — he’s great at making even the trickiest parts of the cave feel safe and fun.
Thanks again for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience.
All the best for your future adventures!
– The Down to Earth Team
Michelle_D, Feb 2025
Highlight of my trip. Highly recommend. Worth it to have smaller group and not tons of tourists. Caves were amazing.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you, Michelle! We're so happy to hear that our tour was the highlight of your trip. We agree that the smaller group size makes for a much more personal experience. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon for another unforgettable adventure!
Sue_W, Feb 2025
Know that it’s a blast! Ash is fun to hang out with- knows a ton and the time literally went by so fast! It was a full day for us as we did Hobbiton in the morning. Michelle is great getting you settled on their beautiful property and a perfect host. Ash is the perfect tour guide. Went with 3 couples - hope to come back again with our family 💕. Do it!! We were a little concerned about clothes - but you leave on underwear and they supply the rest. You get to come back and put on your nice dry clothes and enjoy some cookies and tea or coffee.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Sue! We're thrilled you had such a great time with us. It’s awesome to hear that you enjoyed the adventure, and we’re glad the outfit details worked out for you. We’d love to welcome you back with your family next time! Thanks again for recommending us—hope to see you again soon! 😊
Jan_D, Feb 2025
An active outing with an excellent guide. Super scenic cave with an excellent display of glow worms. Guide created great camaraderie amongst our small group.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for the great review, Jan! We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the active outing and the beautiful glowworm display. It’s wonderful that Ash was able to create such a great atmosphere within your group. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to have you back for another memorable experience!
Kelsey_M, Feb 2025
Once in a lifetime experience! Ash was very knowledgeable and answered all questions we had. He was attentive and informative
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review, Kelsey! We're thrilled to hear you had a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Ash. It’s great to know that his knowledge and attentiveness made your adventure even more special. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience!
Anonymous, Feb 2025
Great tour and wonderful experience. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. Made us feel safe during the whole experience too. It was awesome to climb through the cave to get tot the glow worms and to enjoy them in our small group. And ash got a great picture of us
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad you had a wonderful experience and felt safe throughout the tour. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon for another unforgettable experience!
Heather_G, Feb 2025
Definitely the way to see the caves, glow worms and enjoy meeting new people. Ash was an amazing guide. My husband & I would highly recommend this over the main walking tours.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thanks, Heather! So glad you and your husband had an amazing time! 😊 Ash sure knows how to make the adventure special. Appreciate the recommendation—hope to see you both for another cave adventure someday! ✨🚀
Diane_N, Feb 2025
Outstanding! Very personal experience. Small groups of 3-12 people on private property. Up close, intimate experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thanks, Diane! 😊 We're so glad you loved the intimate experience—small groups make it extra special! We never have more than 8! Hope to see you for another adventure someday. ✨🚀
Ephraim_S, Jan 2025
Ash is a great tour guide. Super friendly and knowledgeable. Makes the tour one of a kind. Huge bonus, you don’t have to bring anything. He will provide everything for you.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thanks for the awesome review! 😊 Ash is definitely one of a kind—friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to make your adventure unforgettable. Plus, we’ve got you covered with all the gear, so you can just show up and enjoy the magic of our off-the-beaten-track glowworm caves.
Kerri_R, Jan 2025
This was a fantastic tour of an off-the-beaten-path glowworm cave! Ash was a terrific guide - he’s knowledgeable, enthusiastic and attentive to his guests. There were four of us on the tour (my husband and I and two other folks who had signed up for the tour that same day), and Ash really made sure we were all safe and having a good time. He took some great photos for us, too - including a couple with the glowworms. It’s nearly impossible to get a good shot of them yourself, as you can only bring a phone camera (which is very sensible!) and no tripod. Ash had a tripod and knew how to use a light-painting technique to get us lit up in the photo but still have the shutter open for 30 seconds to capture the glow worms. Sitting down with tea and cookies after the trip was a nice touch! Everything you need is provided, and it’s just a great opportunity to explore a gorgeous cave and amazing glow worms in a much more private setting. (NOTE: You need to be able to do some walking for this tour, as well as crouching and climbing. It wasn’t too difficult, but if you have issues walking or crouching, or if you’re a very large person, this won’t be the tour for you.) Thanks, Ash, for a great tour!!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thanks for the amazing review! 😊 We love giving our guests a more private, immersive glowworm cave experience—no crowds, just adventure! Ash’s passion, knowledge, and photography skills definitely make the tour extra special (and those glowworm shots are magic! ✨📸). Plus, nothing beats a well-earned tea and cookie after exploring underground! 🏕️ Thanks for choosing our tour—hope to see you again for another adventure!
Katrina_R, Dec 2024
Honestly, this was the BEST experience! Small group, thoroughly knowledgeable about the land, ecology, and cave system! Ash and Michele made the trip! Thank you for sharing your land and the knowledge about it❤️
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for such a heartfelt review! ❤️ We’re over the moon that you had the BEST experience with us. Ash and Michelle love sharing their knowledge and passion for our special place, and they’ll be thrilled to hear your kind words. Come back anytime—you’re always welcome here! 😊
Simone_R, Dec 2024
Very pleasant host, understandable even with little knowledge of English, you should have a certain level of fitness and health as climbing over boulders and through narrow passages is required, and you should not be too much over the optimum weight, otherwise you won't be able to get through in some places...The cave with the carpet of glowworms on the ceiling is impressive...a tour that is worth it....
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your thoughtful review! 🌟 We’re so glad you found the glowworm caves impressive and the adventure worthwhile. It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed the experience and felt welcomed by our team. Wishing you many more exciting journeys ahead! 😊
James_E, Dec 2024
Fantastic small group tour. Ash is a fantastic guide! The cave was great and, yes, tons of glowworms! For me, this was the right length of tour and activity level. We really appreciated the coffee and biscuit time at the end! Agreed with everything in the previous review. Great hosts!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hi James, thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a fantastic time on our Eco Adventure Glowworm Cave Tour. Ash will be over the moon with your kind words – he truly loves sharing the magic of the caves with our guests.
Anne_H, Dec 2024
The moment you meet Ash from Down to Earth Eco Tours, you will know that you are in for an extra ordinary experience. He is funny & witty. I would recommend this for anyone who is in good physical condition and has an adventurous spirit. All your clothing and gear is provided. Your journey starts with a light hike down the hillside beside the grazing sheep. This is a 4th generation-family owned property that the family have opened up for this activity. You will take stairs down to the cave entrance and be greeted by scenes you will swear could only be generated by AI
they are that amazing. For the cave experience, you can expect to climb and crawl in some small spaces for the first part but - very doable so don't stress about it. Ash was very reassuring and helped to calm my nerves.
(Not going to lie- I initially thought - What did I sign us up for?)
Trust me-You can do it!
After you get over the fact you are climbing into a dark/small space- it is very manageable. The first part is where you question yourself- afterwards, the cave space is very large and spacious.
Ash was very gracious about taking photos in key areas -and yes, the Glow worms are amazing.
On the way out you will need to climb a lot of stairs to get back up to the property - so take your time, no need to rush.
The tour ends back where it begins and you can enjoy getting to know your tour mates and Ash over some cookies and coffee/tea. If you are looking for a non touristy type of thing to do -THIS IS IT! We have officially adopted Ash as our Kiwi brother. Would highly recommend this an option to the other Waitomo Cave Tours. And just in case it matters or helps you decide -we are in our mid 50's and 60's for age reference.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you for your review Anne! Maybe we should hire you as our marketing person! Lovely words and description. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your New Zealand travels. Take care and call in next time if you are ever back in this neck of the woods.
sjstone0122, Nov 2024
To start, this tour is on private property and family owned, so you’re exploring a cave outside of the ones saturated with tourists. All clothes/shoes/gear are provided. Theres a short walk through a luscious field before you enter a tropical forest leading to the cave. Then the real fun begins as our phenomenal guide Ash took us through the caves to find the glow worms. We all could have sat in silence forever just taking in the peace and beauty. He even took amazing photos for us and emailed them after the tour. While this tour is slow paced and doesn’t require experience, it does require a certain amount of mobility and physicality, as you are walking on uneven terrain, climbing rocks, and shimmying/crawling through some tight spots. Overall it exceeded expectations, felt very personal, and was a highlight of our NZ vacation.
Charles_L, Nov 2024
This adventurous experience involved climbing into the caves, trekking into river streams, hiking into forests, funny from our humorous guide Ash and eventually a stunning view of millions of glowworms in an otherwise completely dark cave. Not the commercial touristy cave tour you would expect. Super fun time indeed!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your amazing review! We're thrilled you had such a fabulous experience and enjoyed the personal touch from Ash. It’s great to hear you appreciated the unique, off-the-beaten-path nature of the tour, so do we! Hope to have you back for another adventure soon!
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