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1-Hour Guided Tour of Aranui Cave Waitomo | 1 hour

23 Reviews | Waitomo
From $45.78 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 15 travelers in total.
Adult (15-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
2
Child (4-14) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15
0
Infant (0-3) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Aranui Cave Tour (24/25)
2 Adults x $46.11
$92.22
Approx Total
$92.22
Aranui Cave Tour

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Local guide
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Overview

Discover serenity in the most delicate and intimate of the main caves in Waitomo. Begin your tour with a guided walk through an enchanted forest before discovering the most beautiful collection of decorative formations. Cave has a natural cave entrance and is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. As a dry cave without a running river through it, it houses very little life past its entrance. Walk through the cave with your guide on this 1-hour tour, with an additional 15-minute guided bush walk. Visit soon to see the richly varied cave formations within close-up view and enjoy an experience you will never forget. Choose from one of seven departure times when you book.

Meeting points

Departure Point: Ruakuri Scenic Reserve Car Park Address: 39 Waitomo Village Rd, Waitomo 3977, New Zealand Dates: See Availability

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Aranui Cave

    Set in the forest of the Ruakuri scenic reserve, the beautifully delicate formations in Aranui Cave create a place for quiet contemplation and a time to reflect on the wonders of nature. Aranui Cave is a magical, mystical place that is steeped in Maori myth and legend. As such, it occupies a very special place in the hearts of the people of the Waitomo district. Aranui Cave is set in the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, 5 minute drive from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. It is named after Ruruku Aranui, the local Maori man who first discovered this previously hidden gem back in 1910. Aranui Cave has a natural cave entrance and is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. As a dry cave without a river running through it, it houses very little life past its entrance.  However, just inside the entrance is a colony of native New Zealand cave wetas and further into the cave is the most beautiful collection of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and decorative formations. On this guided tour, explore the ancient cave formations, high chambers and huge stalactites and stalagmites of Aranui Cave, one of Waitomo’s best kept secrets. These small-group tours are led by experienced guides who can provide information on the cave's unique geology and history.

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • All you will need are comfortable shoes and a warm jacket.
  • Not suitable for those who have difficulty navigating stairs
  • Due to high demand and limited capacity, if you are late or 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
  • Your own transport is required
  • You must check in 30 minutes before the tour departs

Free Cancellation

September 10100% refund
September 11No refund

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

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.3

23 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    14
  • 4 stars
    6
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    1
  • 1 star
    2

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 14 reviews with 5 stars

Great limestone formations, but no glowworms!

Published on Feb, 2025

If you love limestone caves and cave formations, this is a *great* tour! But if you are here for glowworms, you are in the wrong cave because there aren't any! The pace was very relaxed, not rushed like Waitomo, and you can take as many photos as you like. There's a nice flight of stairs to enter the cave, but then you'll cool off. Of the caves I toured in Waitomo, this had the best formations, so I'd recommend it if you have the time.

Great and must see!

Published on Feb, 2025

Loved it ! It is a must see in New Zealand! Our tour guide T was amazing !!! Super fun and magical. The boar ride was a bit wet but everything was so nice!!!

Magic

Published on Jan, 2025

What a magical experience this was! The warranty is palpable. Our guide, Glen, had a great sense of humor and totally understood the magic of the cave.

Good experience with family

Published on Jul, 2024

Beautiful experience with family. Great pictures outside the caves. Shawnee was an amazing guide! She was funny and informative.

Nature's Magic

Published on Apr, 2024

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves were mesmerizing. Gliding through the darkness with thousands of tiny lights above us felt like something out of a fairytale.

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