Black Labyrinth: Black Water Rafting - Private Tour from Auckland

My husband and I, both in our 60’s, had an amazing adventure. I’m a little afraid of heights but it wasn’t a problem. The training in how to use the rappelling gear made a big impact. The hardest part for me was walking up the hill after getting out of the cave. Shout out to Teddy for helping me during the last part of the caving experience. Cannot recommend it enough!!

This was an incredible experience, and I am so glad we did it. My kids (12 and 16) rate it as one of the top experiences of their trip. There was actually a problem with our booking (entirely my fault - I booked it for the wrong day), and the staff at reception were kind and helpful getting us rebooked onto a tour with short notice, and then gave us some great advice on what to do and see whilst waiting the next few hours. Our guides, Hannah and Leah (and our excellent driver Pippin) were incredibly professional, relaxed and heaps of fun - they brought energy and excitement to our experience with a wonderful sense of humour. I was so immensely impressed with how they handled the impulsive energy of my 12 year old son, making sure he was having fun whilst always prioritising safety. They were exceptional and made our experience a really special adventure.

This review is twofold-- one for the Blackwater Rafting Co, and one for ExperienceKart. EXPERIENCE KART: Firstly-- the drive from Auckland and back was gorgeous! Secondly, we were the only three people who had booked the tour, so we got a pretty personalized experience. Karthik was really nice-- he even took us back to the hotel a few minutes after departure when I realized I'd forgotten something. We learned a lot about the places we passed along the way, we got snacks, and had a chance to eat lunch before heading off back to Auckland. Karthik even dropped us off at Mount Eden, to help us make it in time before sunset! I couldn't recommend this company enough. Especially our guide Karthik, who was super cool and made the experience 10 times better! BLACKWATER RAFTING CO: Booking this experience, I was a little scared, being a weak swimmer and, like most people(?), am afraid of dark and narrow spaces. But blackwater rafting was amazing! Everyone was right-- this IS the best way to see the glow worms. I'd visited and done a regular tour a few years ago, but the blackwater experience blows it out of the water. Just walking through the caves was already awesome. Sprinkle in a few waterfall jumps and the glide under the glowworms at the end and you've got an unforgettable experience. The blackwater rafting co folks were really kind and great guides! I always felt safe in the water and they took good care of us. The caves themselves actually felt quite roomy. I'm also not the most athletic person out there, but this was pretty breezy. A good metric would be; can you climb stairs, stand in the tides on a beach without falling over, and are okay stepping walking for thirty minutes straight? Anyways-- next time, I'm coming back for the black abyss experience. TL;DR super worth it! you won't regret it!

This was an absolute highlight of our trip to New Zealand - it was our first tour and we loved it! It's not a far drive from Auckland. We did the Labyrinth and it is 3 hours long. SO MUCH FUN!! And, challenging. The first challenge is getting into the wet suit! LOL! Then we walked to a dock where they ask you to jump backwards into the water onto your tube. Needless to say, the water was very cold. But it gets you used to how you will be getting into the underwater river and you'll jump off of a couple waterfalls this way, crawl through a low ceiling area and you'll float as a "tube, tube" train through a portion of the tunnel and see the glowworms above. The boots they provide are amazing - no slipping on rocks! If you have the time, I highly recommend this adventure.

Family holiday travelling around North Island, NZ - did the Black Labyrinth Waitomo rafting experience. Absolutely amazing experience and something completely different from a standard holiday activity. Not for the faint hearted - did this with my two teenagers, whilst my wife did the Waitomo Glowworm caves tour - for the more gentle experience.

What a fabulous experience!! Definitely more exhilarating than I anticipated but but well worth the adventure. The guides were very good and ensured a safe and fun experience for all. My favourite part was the human eel floating with our headlamps off just taking in the beauty of the glow worms. We were apparently lucky for timing as the past few days of rain meant higher water levels which lead to a great experience. You definitely can’t be afraid of a combination of dark, fast moving water, caves, physical exertion, jumping backwards off a small water fall. It was a blast and one of my favourite activities I have ever done! My partner and I are in our sixth decade for reference for anyone older thinking of doing this!

Prefacing this by saying I am not the adventurous type, but I wanted to try something new. Our guides, Ciarne, Astrid, and Leah, were very helpful and professional! I’m a bit of a scaredy cat (I shy away from roller coasters) but I felt safe at all times with the guides. The water is cold but the wet suit keeps you nice and warm (apart from your hands) - definitely worth it for the experience and the view!!

What an AMAZING experience. Our guides, Matt and Ollie, made this experience even better. We felt very safe and comfortable with them, while having many laughs and much fun. If you are thinking about doing this, don't hesitate! We had from 15 years to 50 year olds, skinny to chubby, and everyone made it through with big smiles on their faces. We did this early July, and although the water was cold, it wasn't unbearable. There are change rooms, lockers, toilets and showers at their base. Have no doubt that you are in good capable hands and will have an experience not to forget.