The tiny village of Waitomo is known as the “Glow Worm Capital of the World.” It doesn’t look like much on the surface, but beneath the town is an extensive network of caves with lakes and rivers running through them, creating a perfect habitat for these strange little glowing bugs. There’s lots to do beyond worm-spotting, and you can spend a fun-filled weekend in Waitomo.
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Is a weekend in Waitomo enough time?
Yes, it’s easy to see all the major attractions over a weekend in Waitomo. Whether you’re visiting from Auckland or have dedicated a couple days on a bigger trip around New Zealand, there’s lots of cool stuff to do here. But you can definitely see the highlights over a weekend.
Driving is the best way to travel around New Zealand. So make sure you rent a car for your trip to Waitomo. The town is small, but the activities are definitely not within walking distance!
Day 1 in Waitomo
Dive right in and check out the glow worm-y goodness on the first day of your weekend in Waitomo. Tours run as early as 8:30 AM, and the earlier you go, the more likely you are to avoid the crowds. Lots of people book Waitomo day trips from Auckland and arrive closer to noon.
Visit a glow worm cave (or two)
The main attraction! Glow worms are awesome, but you definitely don’t need to visit every single cave in the area to appreciate them. They’re also not exactly cheap to tour, so I recommend doing two if you can swing the cost, one if you’re on a budget, and three or four if you’re a little glow worm freak.
Be sure to pre-book your Waitomo glow worm cave experiences. Especially in the high season from November to February, popular choices like the Spellbound Cave definitely book out.
How to choose the right glow worm tour for your travel style
There are a few different ways to see the Waitomo caves, and the right one really depends on what you're after — a chill boat ride, a full-on adventure, or somewhere in between. Here's how I'd match each tour to your style.
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Adventure
Black Water Rafting
For thrill seekers! Choose from a 3 or 5 hour experience that involves treading waist-high through cave water, squeezing through narrow passageways, and floating along an underground river in a tube. The 5-hour option also includes abseiling and a zipline. Very epic. Here's a guide to the same Blackwater Rafting glow worm experience I did.
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Quick spin through
Spellbound Glow Worm Cave
This is the best choice if you can only do one experience. It has the most extensive and incredible display of glow worms I've seen in New Zealand! The walk is super chill and you get a little boat ride at the end. Note you can't take any photos in this one, but photographing glow worms is insanely hard anyway.
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Accessibility & photography
Ruakuri Cave
This one is super Instagrammable, and wheelchair/stroller accessible. You can take photos at certain points on the tour, and the lit-up spiral ramp leading several stories down into the cave makes for an epic photo. If you're realllly committed to getting some great pics, they offer a photography-specific tour where you can bring your tripod for long exposure shots.
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Not keen on worms
Aranui Cave
This one doesn't actually have any glow worms (except a couple small ones at the cave entrance). So if they kinda freak you out but you still want to visit a cave, this is the one for you. You can take pics to your heart's content of all the cool stalagmites/stalactites.
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Adventure but bougie
Okohua Glow Worm Cave
The small group tours of this cave are unique in that they end with a soak in a cedar hot tub. A pretty luxe way to wind down after your underground river and glow worm spotting experience.
Eat at the Tomo Bar
It’s not like there’s a ton of restaurant competition in this tiny town. But we always have dinner at the Tomo Bar when we go to Waitomo. The brisket burger is legit! I don’t really rate their pizza, though. You may show up and find it underwhelming. But it’s the place to be in town — even for locals — according to our black water rafting guides.
Stroll the Ruakuri Bushwalk after dark
You can do the self-guided Ruakuri Bushwalk for free by following the forest trail at night. That’s right, glow worms don’t just live in caves! They live outside in the right (wet) conditions. It’s a short drive from town in the same area as the entrance to the Aranui Cave (not Ruakuri, despite the name).
Make sure you bring a flashlight as it’s literally pitch black out there. As I mentioned, you want a torch with a red light function if possible.
Where to stay in Waitomo
I really recommend booking early in the high season (December to February) because there aren’t that many accommodation options in Waitomo, so the town books out quickly.
- JunoHall Backpackers: Super close to the Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. and the cheapest option around with dorms around 40 NZD.
- Top 10 Holiday Park: BYO tent, caravan, RV, or rent a basic cabin. This is the most affordable place to stay and it’s in a great location across from the General Store and Tomo Bar. You can relax in the hot tub after a long day of glow worm gazing or waterfall chasing. Campsites from around 30 NZD per night, cabins from 120 NZD.
- Wai Domo Peak: A bougie option with great views and an outdoor tub for a secluded romantic escape. 295 NZD per night.
- Orchard Valley Glamping: This can barely be considered glamping in my opinion because it’s so lush! If money is no object, this is the place to stay. 550 NZD per night with a two-night minimum.
Day 2 in Waitomo
There’s more to Waitomo than the caves! Not much, if I’m honest… but more. Spend the rest of your weekend exploring the area rather than spending a fortune on cave tours. Better yet, lots of these activities are free.
Mangapohue Natural Bridge
A chill but stunning walk through a canyon that leads to a “natural bridge.” I’ll level with you, the bridge part of this is a little underwhelming. It’s kinda just a big hole in a rock. But the walk is beautiful! If you go beyond the “bridge,” there’s also a nice field with some cool rocks that have ancient mollusk fossils embedded in them.
Marokopa Falls
I think this is the most underrated waterfall in New Zealand. I feel like no one talks about it, but it’s so stunning, a super short 20-minute walk from the parking lot, and only half an hour from Waitomo. A must-visit if you’re in the area if you ask me. We didn’t see a single other person on the trail when we were there, and there’s no parking or entrance fee.
It’s also easy to rope this into a North Island road trip guided solely by the best waterfalls. I’ve mapped it all out for ya.
Save this: North Island Map of New Zealand on Google
Marokopa Beach
Drive another 30 minutes past Marokopa Falls towards the coast and you’ll hit Marokopa Beach. It’s never busy and the view of the mountains from the shore is wild beautiful.
Airstrip Bouldering Fields
A great spot for outdoor bouldering if you’re into that! Bring your crash pad and explore the limestone rocks a quick 10-minute drive from Waitomo.
Big Bird Petting Zoo
A random little farm in Waitomo Village where you can visit emus, ostriches, llamas, guinea pigs, cows, tortoises, kunekune pigs, and more creatures. This is a super family-friendly and budget-friendly activity. It’s also a quaint bed and breakfast if you’re looking for something quirky.
What to pack for a weekend in Waitomo
- A headlamp with a red light feature. You won’t be able to use it during the tours, but if you do the bushwalk at night it’ll help you see the path without making it impossible to see the glow worms.
- A rain jacket. Even if it’s not raining, the caves can be very cold and wet. Drops of water occasionally fall from the cave ceiling, so a little jacket will keep you comfortable.
- A bathing suit. You’ll need this if you’re doing black water rafting for under your wet suit or soaking in the cedar tub after the Okohua cave. The Top 10 Holiday Park also has a pool and spa bath. You might also want to swim at Marokopa Beach.
- A camera with long exposure feature. Most smartphones have this feature now, and it’s the only way to get a half-decent photo of these lil worms. If you have something you can use to stabilize the camera as well, like a tripod, that’ll improve the quality.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
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