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Six guests, a private cave

Okohua Glowworm Cave with The Waitomo Experience

Three and a half hours in a cave on a family farm ten minutes from Waitomo Village: walking, wading, swimming, climbing and a float under the glowworms.

This tour
Okohua Glowworm Cave in a group of six
The Waitomo Experience Okohua Glowworm Cave in a group of six
  • 3.5 hours, of which 2 to 3 hours underground
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
★ 5.0 (156) from NZ$ 269
Book now
All Waitomo cave adventures compared

The Okohua Glowworm Cave tour is run by a different company from the Black Labyrinth and the Black Abyss, in a different cave. The Waitomo Experience is a family business on Tumu Tumu Station, a farm about ten minutes from Waitomo Village, and according to the operator no other tour has access to its cave. Groups are capped at six guests (currently 5.0★ from 156 reviews).

The tubing is one part of a longer route. You walk across the farm to the entrance, climb down into the cave and then follow the underground river through large chambers, walking, wading, swimming and climbing, with a float on the tube under the glowworms along the way. The tour ends back at base with a hot shower and a cedar hot tub. It is physical, and reviewers say so plainly; the section below covers what that means.

The tour at a glance

Each card carries the same facts from the operator listings. Open one for gear, check-in and age limits.

Okohua Glowworm Cave in a group of six
The Waitomo Experience

Okohua Glowworm Cave in a group of six

Three and a half hours in a private cave on Tumu Tumu Station: walking, wading, swimming and climbing, a float on the tube under the glowworms, a snack underground and a cedar hot tub at the end. Guide photos and videos are included. From age 12 with an adult caregiver, groups of up to six.

  • Duration: 3.5 hours, of which 2 to 3 hours underground
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from NZ$ 269 ★ 5.0 (156 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

About this tour

A small-group cave adventure in a private cave: Okohua Glowworm Cave lies on Tumu Tumu Station, a family-owned farm about ten minutes from Waitomo Village, and according to The Waitomo Experience no other tour has access to it. After a walk across the farm you climb down into the cave and follow an underground river through large limestone chambers. You walk, wade, swim and climb, and for part of the route you float on a tube under the glowworms.

Groups are capped at six guests, and the guides take photos and videos during the tour. Halfway through there is a snack in the cave, and back at base a hot shower and a cedar hot tub with a view over native bush.

Expect a physical tour: reviewers describe narrow passages and swimming sections, and one mentions a ladder down a narrow tunnel right at the start. The guides offer easier alternatives on some passages. How much of the route you float depends on the water level, and the natural rock slide only runs when it is right.

What's included

  • Tube, wetsuit, boots and helmet
  • Black water rafting (tubing) under the glowworms
  • Snack halfway through the cave
  • Photos and videos taken by the guides
  • Hot showers and a cedar hot tub after the tour
  • Optional rock jump

Meeting point

The Waitomo Experience HQ, 754 Boddies Road, RD1, Te Kuiti, about 10 minutes by car from Waitomo Village. Boddies Road is narrow and unsealed, and mobile reception can drop out, so save the map offline. Check in at the cave building on arrival.

What to bring

  • Swimwear
  • Towel
  • Socks

Know before you go

  • Minimum age 12, and anyone under 18 needs a caregiver aged 18 or over on the same tour.
  • Weight between 45 kg and 118 kg (the listing names 120 kg in one place and 118 kg in another; the lower figure is the safe one).
  • Upper age limit 67 according to the listing. Fit travellers above that can ask the operator directly.
  • Moderate fitness needed. If you are uncomfortable in water or scared of it, this tour is not for you.
  • Groups are limited to six guests.
  • Booked on GetYourGuide.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 12 or anyone under 45 kg
  • People with a low level of fitness or limited mobility

Details as listed by the operator on the booking platform.

How the three and a half hours run

The base is The Waitomo Experience HQ at 754 Boddies Road, where you get changed and fitted with a wetsuit, boots, helmet and tube. From there the guide walks the group across limestone farmland to the cave entrance. Underground, the listing names two to three hours: passages along the river, blue pools of spring water, a stop for a snack and a hot drink halfway, the tubing section under the glowworms and, when the water level allows, a natural rock slide. A rock jump is offered but not compulsory. You come out into native bush and walk back to base for a hot shower and the hot tub.

Many reviewers name their guides, and several describe the guides adjusting the route to the group. One five-star review from January 2026 puts it this way: the guide shows people who dislike confined spaces and crawling an alternative route.

More caving than floating

!
This tour asks more of your body than the name suggests

A review from April 2026 asks for it to be made “super clear” that the tour is very physical, with a lot of clambering and swimming, especially when the river is high. On that tour one guest decided not to go at the very start, where the group climbs down a narrow tunnel on a ladder. Another review calls for a decent level of fitness and being comfortable in tight spaces. The tubing share also varies: a review from October 2026 mentions less tubing than usual because of low water.

The listing asks for moderate fitness and states plainly that the tour is not for anyone uncomfortable in water or scared of it. If you mainly want the glowworm float with as little scrambling as possible, the Black Labyrinth keeps the effort lower. If tight spaces are a real problem, the dry boat tour through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is the better choice; our sister site Glowworm Caves covers it.

Where it differs from the Legendary tours

The biggest practical difference is photos. On the Black Labyrinth and the Black Abyss your own camera stays on land and the operator sells the guides’ pictures separately. On the Okohua tour, photos and videos taken by the guides are part of the inclusions, and several reviewers mention receiving them. The listing does not say if your own camera is allowed, so plan on the guide photos.

The group is smaller, with six guests at most, against up to 12 on the Labyrinth and 8 on the Abyss. The cave is a different one: Okohua instead of Ruakuri. And the start is outside the village, at the end of a narrow gravel road that one reviewer would like to see improved. Mobile reception can drop out on the way, so save the map offline before you leave.

Who can join

  • From age 12. Anyone under 18 needs a caregiver aged 18 or over on the same tour.
  • Between 45 and 118 kg. The listing gives 120 kg in one place and 118 kg in another, so the lower figure is the one to plan with.
  • Up to age 67. The operator asks fit travellers above that to get in touch before booking. A reviewer in his sixties took the tour with his wife and recommends it to anyone reasonably fit.
  • Moderate fitness and some ease in water. You swim short sections, so a fear of water rules the tour out.

Bring swimwear, a towel and socks. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour; the policy shown at checkout on GetYourGuide is the binding one.

Next to the Black Labyrinth and the Black Abyss

Sorted by review count.

Photo Tour What's in it Rating ↕ Price ↕ Book
Black Labyrinth (glowworm tubing) Black Labyrinth (glowworm tubing) Tubing on the underground river, waterfall jumps, glowworm float · 3 h · age 12+ · Viator option “Black Labyrinth” ★ 4.8 (440) NZ$ 199 per person Book now
Black Abyss (abseil, zipline, tubing) Black Abyss (abseil, zipline, tubing) 35-m abseil, glowworm zipline, waterfall climbing, tubing · 5 h · age 16+ · Viator option “Black Abyss” ★ 4.8 (440) NZ$ 332 per person Book now
Okohua Glowworm Cave (small group) Okohua Glowworm Cave (small group) Caving, swimming and tubing in a private cave, guide photos, hot tub · 3.5 h · age 12+ · up to 6 guests ★ 5.0 (156) NZ$ 269 per person Book now

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.

Reviews of the Okohua Cave tour

Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.

★ 5.0 (156 reviews)

“It was a magical experience, and I’m so glad I went. It should be super clear to anyone doing this tour that it’s a *very* physical experience, and that requires a lot of clambering and swimming- especially when the river level is high. And that one should not have claustrophobia. We had one person elect to not do the tour right at the beginning when we needed to climb down a narrow tunnel on a ladder, and a second who reported having a lot of difficulty with claustrophobia early on but who was able to complete the tour. The guides handled all this with compassion and safety. … The cedar hot tubs are top notch (but could be a degree warmer after the cold river), and the setting is gorgeous. I appreciated all the photos the guides took.”
Deborah · USA · April 2026
“I have been caving in NZ before but this was just awesome. To see glow worms as well as the rock formations, colours, stalagmites and stalactites was amazing. Our guide was Geoff and he was great. Great knowledge and patience. Being only a small group tour was also good. We didn’t get to do as much tubing due to low water levels. I would recommend this tour to anyone”
Donna · Australia · October 2026
“Really excellent activity. With two of us and just four other participants, this felt like a bespoke tour. … There’s lots of wading through rocky caves, floating and through navigating some narrow gaps, but if you’re reasonably fit you’ll be fine. My wife and I are in our 60s and we had a blast. The pay-off is well worth it.”
Geoff · United Kingdom · February 2026
“Did the Waitomo experience and it was seriously SO cool and gnarly (in the best way). … We were treated to hot cedar tea and chocolates mid-way, which was such a cozy touch after the adventure. Just a heads up: this experience does require a decent level of fitness. You’ll need to be agile and comfortable moving through tight spaces … Hands down one of the best experiences I’ve had here.”
Sazrina · Malaysia · February 2026
“We were a group of four friends and were speechless for the entire three hours because of the beauty. This tour is also ideal for those who dislike confined spaces and crawling, as the tour guide shows them an alternative route. It's also ideal for weak swimmers.”
Daniel · Switzerland · January 2026
“Small group tour (maximum 6 people). The cave is on a farming family's property, so it's not subject to mass tourism. The guide takes the time to take photos and gives us some information about the cave. The tour includes walking, swimming, and tubing; it was really enjoyable, and we saw lots of glowworms. There's a snack halfway through, all the necessary equipment is provided, there are hot showers upon arrival, and a spa where you can relax after being in 12-degree water. I highly recommend it!”
Jade · France · March 2026 · translated review
“Absolutely phenomenal! Brilliant guide through a gorgeous cave. Photos taken throughout so didn't need to bring my phone down. Lads lovely and informative, very supportive throughout the expedition. … The soak in the hot tub at the end was magical and will absolutely be doing it again in the future.”
Niamh · United Kingdom · September 2025
“It was a good trip with nice physical challenges, where we climbed, swam and crawled through the cave. Really nice with Glowworms in the dark.”
Anette · Denmark · February 2026 · translated review

The points worth knowing about this tour come from positive reviews. It is physical, with narrow passages, climbing and swimming, and one reviewer saw a fellow guest drop out at the ladder down into the cave. How much of the route you float depends on the water level. Several reviewers mention that the guides offered an easier way round the tighter or more adventurous sections, and one wished the hot tub were a degree warmer after the cold river.

Reviews from the GetYourGuide pages 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

Is the Okohua Cave tour black water rafting?

Partly. Tubing under the glowworms is part of the route, and the listing names black water rafting among the inclusions. Most of the two to three hours underground, though, are spent walking, wading, swimming and climbing through the cave. If floating on the tube is what you are after, the Black Labyrinth is built around it.

How fit do I need to be?

The listing asks for moderate fitness. Reviewers describe narrow gaps, clambering and swimming, and one review from April 2026 calls the tour very physical, especially when the river is high. A reviewer in his sixties found it fine for anyone reasonably fit. The guides offer easier ways round some sections.

Is it suitable if I am claustrophobic?

Think twice. The route includes tight spaces and a ladder down a narrow tunnel at the start, where one guest on a tour in April 2026 decided not to continue. Several reviewers who were nervous beforehand describe the guides putting them at ease, and one says the guide offers an alternative route to people who dislike confined spaces. For real claustrophobia, the glowworm boat tour is the safer choice.

Can teenagers join?

Yes, from age 12, as long as a caregiver aged 18 or over is on the same tour. The minimum weight is 45 kg. For groups with 12-to-15-year-olds this and the Black Labyrinth are the two rafting options; the Black Abyss starts at 16.

Are photos included?

Yes. Photos and videos taken by the guides are part of the inclusions, and reviewers mention receiving them. The listing does not say if your own camera is allowed.

How cold is the water?

Cold. One review names 12 degrees, another calls it freezing. The wetsuit, the moving and the hot drink halfway help, and the tour ends with a hot shower and a cedar hot tub, which one reviewer would have liked a degree warmer after the river.

Where is the meeting point?

The Waitomo Experience HQ, 754 Boddies Road, RD1, Te Kuiti, about ten minutes by car from Waitomo Village. Boddies Road is narrow and unsealed, so drive it slowly in the wet, and save the map offline because mobile reception is patchy.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes, free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour. The policy shown at checkout on GetYourGuide is the binding one.

Related on this site

Labyrinth, Abyss or Okohua

All three tours in one decision matrix.

Black Labyrinth

More tubing, less scrambling, up to 12 people.

Getting to Waitomo

Both bases, the gravel road and the check-in times.

Six helmets, one private cave

Live price for the Okohua tour, next to the two Legendary tours.

See the comparison