Auckland to Waitomo Glowworms, Kiwi House & Blue Springs Day Tour
Description
Embark on an extraordinary adventure with our Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Otorohanga Kiwi House and Blue Springs Tour. Step into the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves and marvel at intricate limestone formations, grand caverns, and the stunning Cathedral Chamber, known for its natural acoustics. Then glide by boat through the Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of tiny glowworms illuminate the darkness like a star-filled night sky. Continue your journey at the Otorohanga Kiwi House, encountering New Zealand’s iconic kiwi bird up close and exploring the country’s largest free-flight dome aviary, before visiting the Blue Springs, renowned for its crystal-clear waters. With premium transport, expert guidance, and hotel pick-up and drop-off, this small-group, fully guided tour blends natural wonders, wildlife encounters, and cultural connection into one seamless day. Book now to experience a journey that is as magical as it is memorable.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Embark on your expedition from the largest city in New Zealand. As we set out, your guide will kick off the day's adventures, laying the groundwork for an enthralling exploration. Travel journey time from Auckland to Waitomo Caves approximately- 3 hours
Proceed with a picturesque drive to the Waitomo region, winding through the scenic New Zealand countryside on the way to the Waitomo Caves.
Descend into the enchanting Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where thousands of tiny Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms illuminate the cavern ceiling like a starry night sky. Glide silently by boat along the underground river, gazing in awe at this natural wonder while your expert guide shares fascinating insights into the glowworms’ life cycle and the cave’s geological history. Allow around 45 minutes for this guided experience, blending nature, science, and quiet wonder in one unforgettable setting. Afterwards, stop for lunch (at your expense) at a local eatery, savoring regional flavors before continuing your journey.
Discover the diverse exhibits at the Kiwi House, where encounters with native birds, including the iconic kiwi, offer a unique connection to the country's rich biodiversity.
Recharge with a delectable lunch at a local eatery in Otorohanga (suggestions will be provided by your guide), savoring regional flavors and preparing for the afternoon's encounters. (Lunch is not included in the tour price)
Enjoy a scenic drive to Putāruru, your next stop at the breathtaking Blue Springs, where crystal-clear waters flow through one of New Zealand’s most serene and picturesque natural landscapes.
Enjoy a short, refreshing stroll along the tranquil pathways of the Blue Spring (Te Waihou Walkway), where some of the clearest water in New Zealand flows gently through lush native surroundings. Take your time to soak in the peaceful atmosphere, capture stunning photos of the vivid turquoise waters, and appreciate this pristine natural wonder before continuing your journey.
Reflect on the day’s adventures during a leisurely drive back to Auckland, taking in the memories of the enchanting Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the unique wildlife experience at the Kiwi House, and the natural beauty of the Blue Springs. The return journey is approximately 3.5 hours, offering time to relax and enjoy the scenic New Zealand countryside. Hotel Drop-off: Conclude your day with a convenient drop-off at your Auckland hotel or accommodation.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- If your accommodation is not yet confirmed, we suggest selecting The SkyCity Hotel for now—you can update it later if needed! - We offer convenient pick-ups from selected hotels. If your location isn’t listed, simply choose the nearest available option and meet us there. - Pick-ups start up to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please be ready and waiting outside by then for a smooth start. - Pick-up locations are planned based on each tour and may vary by day. If there are any changes to your pick-up spot, please let us know in advance. - Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. To keep the tour on schedule, we recommend being ready 5–10 minutes early, as we are unable to wait for late arrivals. - As our hotel pickups operate from downtown CBD, guests located near the airport or South Auckland can be picked up from The Sebel, Auckland Manukau at 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau City Centre, Auckland 2104,
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(31)
The host, Aaron, was absolutely fantastic. This was my first trip with Expedigo and it went so well that I booked another one with them shortly afterwards! Aaron's inflection on Maori history throughout the drive was something that I particularly appreciated. The trip went smoothly, the beautiful spots are everything that you hope them to be, and we were brought back in time for dinner, with a fun additional stop that I won't spoil for the reader. Oh, and I would recommend that you be on time throughout the tour, unless you're okay with being (gently) told to be more punctual. 🫠 Overall, it was a great trip; highly recommended!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear that your first trip with Expedigo was such a positive experience that you booked another tour with us right away. Aaron will be delighted to know that you enjoyed his insights into Māori history and appreciated the smooth running of the day. We're also glad you enjoyed the surprise extra stop—and thanks for keeping the mystery alive for future travellers! We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure.
My family and I had a great time. Really put my hats off to our guide/driver David for driving us around, explaining to us all areas in the bus and when we were outside at the attraction. He is really nice and polite. A big thank you to David from expedigo tour transfer 👍
Thank you for your kind review. We're so pleased to hear that you and your family had a great time with us. David will be delighted to receive your feedback—he takes great pride in making sure guests have an enjoyable and informative experience. We'll be sure to pass on your thanks to him. We really appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you and your family again in the future.
The glow worm cave was super great - perfect length of time, very interesting, facilities very clean. The Kiwi House was good - very interesting session on efforts to save the kiwi species. The site is showing its age and could use finding to upgrade some of the exhibits.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the glowworm cave visit — it’s such a special place, and it’s great that you found the tour interesting and the facilities well kept. For many guests, seeing the glowworms up close is a real highlight of the day. It’s also nice to hear you found the Kiwi House session interesting. The work being done to protect and recover the kiwi population is incredibly important, and the team there is very passionate about sharing those conservation efforts with visitors. We also appreciate your honest feedback about the exhibits. Maintaining and updating these spaces is always an ongoing process, and comments like yours are helpful as the site continues to evolve and improve for future visitors. Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts — we’re glad you were able to experience both parts of the tour and hope the glowworm caves remain a memorable highlight of your trip.
Day started off a little rough as the tour guide forgot to pick me up. I contacted Expedigo and was repeatedly told that the driver was running late and was on the way. When the van arrived the driver admitted that he had forgotten to pick me up and had to double back. Remainder of the day passed smoothly. The glow worm caves exceeded my expectations. The tour was really cool. I would recommend the tour, and I recognize that my experience is probably not the usual. I had no other issues being picked up on time for my booked tours.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. We completely understand that the start of the day wasn’t ideal. We’re all human and sometimes mistakes do happen, but we’re really glad the driver was able to return quickly and that the rest of the day went smoothly for you. To be honest, we can’t even remember the last time something like this happened, but we still take it seriously. We’ve used it as a learning moment with our team and provided additional training to help make sure it doesn’t happen to other travellers in the future. Great to hear the glowworm caves exceeded your expectations — they really are something special. Thanks again for your understanding and for still recommending the tour. It’s really appreciated.
The day was fabulous. Our driver Deane was informative and lots of fun. The Glow Worm Caves are magical.
Thank you — that’s so lovely to hear. I’m really glad you had a fabulous day. Deane will be so happy to know you enjoyed his stories and had some fun along the way — that’s exactly the vibe he tries to create. And the Glow Worm Caves… they really are magical, aren’t they? It’s one of those experiences that stays with you. Thanks again for coming along with us!
David was a wonderful guide for our day to see the Glow Worm Caves and Kiwi House. We had a small group of 10 people. We made a “comfort stop” to get a coffee and a danish on the way to Waitomo. The caves and glow worms were really fascinating. We weren’t allowed able to feed the small parakeets at the Kiwi house. Also we weren’t allowed able lucky enough to se Ros, the elusive Kiwi in her environment. It was a great day and would recommend it.
Thank you so much for sharing your day with us. I’m so glad you enjoyed your time with David — he really loves showing people around, and those small group days make it even more special. A coffee and Danish stop on the way to Waitomo sounds like the perfect start. The glowworm caves are pretty unforgettable, aren’t they? It’s such a unique experience. I’m sorry you didn’t get to see Ros — kiwi can be shy little celebrities and sometimes they just don’t feel like making an appearance! Even so, it’s lovely to hear you had a great day and would recommend the tour. That truly means a lot.
We were scheduled to go on the Waitomo Caves and Kiwi House Tour by Expedigo Tours and Travels. Two days before the tour Expedigo Tours contacted us and we were told that the Waitomo Caves and Kiwi House Tour did not have the required 6 person minimum for the tour. Our options were to reschedule to another day or downgrade to just the Waitomo Cave Tour and receive a $50.00 NZD fare difference refund. We chose the downgrade to just the Waitomo Cave Tour, as we had no other days available in our Itinerary. Upon pick up on the day of our downgraded tour, we were crammed into the small passenger van to its maximum capacity of twelve. Deane our driver from Expedigo senseless seating assignments in van left the larger passengers cramped and uncomfortable for the 2.5 hour journey. When confronted with the seat assignment, Deane became insulting and borderline belligerent. During the trip, Deane provided minimum information on the journey to Waitomo Caves. The actual Waitomo Cave tour itself was amazing , this tour was conducted by Spellbound Tours not Expedigo Tours. Upon return from the tour , I spoke to Fatema from Expedigo Tours regarding our fare difference refund of $50 NZD , she assured me that I should see the refund within 5 to 7 days from the tour change on the 11th of February 2026. The date of this review is the 23rd of February 2026 and I have not yet seen and credit to my credit card.
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear about your experience, and we appreciate the opportunity to provide some clarity through the review for other travellers. The original tour you booked did not meet the minimum required participants, and rather than cancel the tour entirely, we offered you alternative options — rescheduling or downgrading to just the Waitomo Cave Tour — which you agreed to. Many providers worldwide would have simply canceled, leaving guests without any option, so we always try to offer alternatives so customers still have a meaningful experience. Our small-group tours are clearly advertised as such, and the minivans we use are designed to carry the stated capacity comfortably. While it may feel different compared to a larger coach, the vehicles are appropriate for the group size. We’ve taken note of your concerns regarding seating and comfort, and we will review our procedures to see how we can better manage this for future guests. Regarding Deane, we’ve discussed your comments internally and with other guests. While he is consistently praised for his professionalism and knowledge, we understand that perception can be individual, and we will continue to review how our guides interact to maintain a positive experience for all. We also want to clarify that the date of your tour was the 17th of February, not the 11th as mentioned in your review. Your booking was made through Viator, who handle the payment side of things. We are the tour providers on the day, and as per their policy, refunds are processed within 5–7 days from the tour date. We have followed up with Viator regarding your refund, and please rest assured we are not holding on to your money. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the Waitomo Cave tour itself, and we appreciate your honest feedback. It helps us refine our tours and service to make experiences better for all guests.
Wonderful once in a lifetime kind of experience! Really enjoyed the knowledge of our tour guide and Expedigo’s staff were very friendly! The caves really did leave us spellbound!
Thank you so much for sharing this. It truly means a lot to hear that the experience felt so special. Our guides are passionate about what they do, and I’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. The caves have a way of leaving all of us in awe — I’m so glad they did the same for you.
It's not to be missed. It's fantastic. It's one of the best memories we have for our trip. The driver was great and pointed out a lot of things on the way. Our tour guide at the caves was phenomenal very knowledgeable and very nice.
Thank you for such a wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear this was one of the best memories of your trip. It’s great to know our driver and cave guide made the experience so special. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again in the future!
The walk through the caves was quite nice, but eventually you come across the glowworms and that really feels like it. The boat stays in the same spot for a long time, so you see the same glowworms all the time. We expected more of it...
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We understand where you’re coming from, as many people do arrive with high expectations around the glowworms. These caves are completely natural, and the boat can only operate in areas where there is sufficient water, which means the route is limited and may feel repetitive. Glowworms themselves are quite uniform in appearance, so they don’t change much from one section of the cave to another. While this can feel underwhelming for you personally , others really enjoy the quieter, more subtle nature of the experience. Everyone takes something different away from it. We do hope that parts such as the cave walk, the guide’s knowledge, and the commentary added value to your visit, even if they weren’t highlighted. We appreciate your feedback and your perspective. Thank you.
