The Black Abyss is what the Black Labyrinth is not: a physically demanding adventure. The five hours begin with a 35-metre abseil into Ruakuri Cave (after training on the surface), continue with a zipline through a glowworm gallery in total darkness, and work through tubing on the underground river and waterfall climbing before you surface again. It ends the way it should: hot shower and soup (currently 5.0★ from 298 reviews).
The gates are stricter than on the Labyrinth for a reason. Minimum age is 16, minimum weight 45 kg, groups are capped at 8 participants, and the operator explicitly asks for good fitness. The one critical review with text on this tour is about the camera ban, and the cold comes up in otherwise positive reviews. Both points are laid out below.
The tour at a glance
Each card carries the same facts from the operator listings. Open one for gear, check-in and age limits.
THL - Waitomo Caves Group
Black Abyss with abseil, zipline and tubing
The five-hour adventure version: a 35-metre abseil into the cave, a zipline through the glowworm gallery, waterfall climbing and tubing. From age 16, groups capped at 8, good fitness asked for.
The full adventure version of black water rafting: five hours that start with a 35-metre abseil into the cave, continue with a zipline through a glowworm gallery in total darkness, and work through waterfall climbing and tubing on the underground river before you surface again.
Abseil training on the surface is part of the tour, and it ends with a hot shower and soup. The operator asks for good fitness, and the minimum age is 16. This one is clearly more demanding than the Black Labyrinth, which is the point.
What's included
Tube, wetsuit, boots, helmet, abseil and safety gear
Abseil training before the descent
Hot shower and soup after the tour
Meeting point
The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co., 585 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo. Check in 30 minutes before your tour starts.
What to bring
Swimwear
Towel
Know before you go
Minimum age 16. Stricter than the Black Labyrinth (12).
Minimum weight 45 kg; groups are capped at 8 participants.
The operator asks for good fitness: abseiling, climbing and several hours in a cool cave.
Check in 30 minutes before the tour; arriving late or not showing up means the ticket is forfeited.
On GetYourGuide each tour has its own listing. When the booking button leads to Viator, choose the “Black Abyss” option there, because Viator sells the Black Labyrinth and the Black Abyss under one listing. Viator confirms the booking within 48 hours, depending on availability.
Not allowed
Personal cameras, GoPros included: photos taken on the tour are sold separately by the operator.
Not suitable for
Anyone under 16 or under 45 kg
Visitors without a reasonable level of fitness
Details as listed by the operator on the booking platform.
What the five hours hold
The tour opens above ground with abseil training. It is included, and it is the reason you do not need prior rope experience. Then comes the sequence the tour is famous for: the 35-metre descent into the cave, the zipline run through the glowworm gallery with your headlamp off, tubing on the underground river beneath the glowworms, and finally the climb out. That means going up waterfalls, which asks real work of your arms and legs at the point in the day when you are coldest. Back at base there is a hot shower and soup.
Groups are capped at 8, smaller than the Labyrinth departures of up to 12. Most of the reviews we quote below praise the guides, several of them by name.
Cold water and the camera rule
!
Five hours is long enough to feel the cold
Cold is the one theme that runs through even the glowing reviews of this tour. One reviewer put the water at 58 °F (about 14 °C) and “damn cold! Even with wetsuits.” Wetsuit, boots and helmet are part of the equipment the operator provides. No review calls the water pleasant. If you run cold, this is the single most important thing to know before booking.
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The camera ban includes GoPros, and it is enforced
Personal cameras are not allowed, action cams included. The guides take photos and the operator sells them separately afterwards. One critical review calls the policy hard to accept at this price. Settle your expectations before the day, because the rule will not bend at the cave.
Who can join
Minimum age 16. Stricter than the Labyrinth’s 12. If anyone in your group is 12 to 15, the Black Labyrinth or the Okohua Cave tour are the ones you can all do together.
Minimum weight 45 kg. Same as the Labyrinth, and a hard limit tied to the equipment.
Good fitness, explicitly. Abseiling, climbing waterfalls and five hours in a cool cave are the reasons. If several flights of stairs already feel like a workout, book the Labyrinth instead.
On the day, check-in closes 30 minutes before the tour, and arriving late or not showing up forfeits the ticket. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before; the policy at checkout on the booking platform is the binding one.
The Abyss starts where the Labyrinth does: check in at 585 Waitomo Caves Road, the base of The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. The tour also ends there, at the Long Black Café.
How it compares to the other tours
Sorted by review count.
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Tour
What's in it
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Black Labyrinth (glowworm tubing)
Tubing on the underground river, waterfall jumps, glowworm float · 3 h · age 12+ · Viator option “Black Labyrinth”
Prices come live from Viator and GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees. On the Black Labyrinth and the Black Abyss, the photos the operator sells afterwards are extra. “What’s in it” summarises the product title. The full inclusions are on the product page.
Black Abyss reviews
Real traveller reviews.
★ 5.0
(298 reviews)
★★★★★
“The tour was amazing. Very adventurous and fun. Floating underneath the glowworms was magical. Our guide Patty was a star.”
Anna · New Zealand · May 2026
★★★★★
“Great! Thoroughly enjoyed our guides Paddy and Ellen. Loved the abseiling. The glow worms cave was very cool. Climbing out of the caves via a waterfall was equally thrilling. Overall it was very good value for money given the length of time we were doing the activity for, not to mention the yummy snacks we had also! An enjoyable unique experience.”
Aoife · Australia · March 2026
★★★★★
“This is an absolutely once-a-lifetime adventure that you shouldn’t miss ! Tim and Rebecca were our instructors and both of them are very caring. The tour itself is a bit long so you may get cold but the company provides us with thermal top and wetsuit so we can stay in the cave for a longer time. Perfect !”
Ada · Hong Kong · October 2025
★★★★☆
“Probably one of the wildest and unique experiences of my life. … A true adrenaline rush coupled with the magical, luminous tapestry of the glow worms. … My only complaint….the water was 58 degrees and damn cold! Even with wetsuits. Other than that minor discomfort it was a blast and met some wonderful people.”
Amy · USA · February 2026
★★★★★
“It was very fun and the guides, Kelly and Harry, were excellent. Just wish the water is a little bit warmer.”
Lucy · USA · October 2025
★★★★★
“I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for adventure and thrills. Plus, the cave system and the glow worms make for such a unique experience. The tour guides are super knowledgeable, caring, and always kept our safety in mind. Do it! You will not regret it!”
Ana Celia · USA · November 2025
★★★☆☆
Critical review
“The tour overall was beautiful. The guides really well prepared and funny. It was charming. But I give 3 stars just to point the attention about the policy no go pro thing. I can’t believe that for the price you pay you still cannot bring your own. Just business because the excuse about safety is total bs.”
Verified traveler · Italy · July 2024
Written criticism is rare on this tour, and the recurring theme sits inside the positive reviews themselves: the water is cold (one reviewer put it at 58 °F, about 14 °C), and over five hours that gets to people even with the wetsuit. The other point is the strict camera ban, GoPros included, which one reviewer found hard to accept at this price. Both points come from people who otherwise liked the tour, and both are worth deciding about before you book, not at the cave.
Reviews of the Black Abyss and the Okohua Cave tour. Long ones are shortened (marked with …) but not reworded; names are cut to first name and country.
FAQ
Do I need abseiling experience for the Black Abyss?
No. Abseil training on the surface is part of the tour, and reviewers describe the guides as safety-focused and caring. What you do need is a reasonable level of fitness: the operator asks for it explicitly, and the waterfall climbs at the end are real physical work.
How fit do I need to be?
The operator explicitly asks for good fitness. You abseil 35 metres, climb waterfalls and spend around five hours moving through a cool cave. You do not need to be an athlete, but this is not a tour to talk yourself into on a maybe. The Black Labyrinth needs far less.
Can a 15-year-old join the Black Abyss?
No. The minimum age is a hard 16, alongside the 45 kg minimum weight. Groups with anyone aged 12 to 15 can do the Black Labyrinth or the Okohua Cave tour together instead; both start at 12, and on the Okohua tour under-18s need a caregiver aged 18 or over with them.
How cold is the water really?
Cold enough that it comes up in several reviews. One reviewer names 58 °F, about 14 °C, and calls it damn cold even with the wetsuit. The operator provides the wetsuit, and the tour ends with a hot shower and soup, but over five hours you will feel it.
Can I bring a GoPro?
No. The camera ban covers personal cameras and action cams, and a critical review confirms that it applies to your own GoPro too. The guides take photos during the tour and the operator sells them separately afterwards.
How big are the groups?
Capped at 8 participants, with a minimum of 2. The Black Labyrinth runs with up to 12.
Where do I check in?
Check-in closes 30 minutes before the tour, and a late arrival forfeits the ticket. The meeting point is the base of The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. at 585 Waitomo Caves Road in Waitomo.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes, free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The policy shown at checkout on GetYourGuide is the binding one, and the 30-minute check-in rule still applies on the day.
