4.7(0)

Black Water Rafting Guided Experience in Waitomo

Adrenaline and wonder in one experience, perfect for gentle thrills.

Best for adventure-loving teens and adults ready to tube and raft through waterfalls and glowworm-lit caves, without needing caving experience.
Book this if you want: A 3-hour adrenaline rush that involves tubing and rafting through Waitomo’s winding cave systems, with an upgrade for ziplining.
Everything you get: Safety gear, wetsuits, expert guide, and entry to one of New Zealand’s most exciting underground cave systems.
Make the most of floating through underground rivers by tube, surrounded by glowworms as you raft through magic.

Inclusions

3 or 5-hour black water rafting tour (based on option selected)
Underground tour of Ruakuri Cave
Ziplining, abseiling, rafting and tubing (based on option selected)
English-speaking guide
Small group of up to 8 or 12 people (based on option selected)
Helmet, light, and black water rafting tube (based on option selected)
Safety equipment
Wetsuits, socks and shoes
Safety briefing and training
Changing rooms with hot showers

Exclusions

Photos

Tip: Just 30 minutes from Waitomo, Mangaokewa Reserve is a rock climber's paradise with over 200 routes catering to all skill levels.
All participants on this tour must weigh at least 45 kg.
Guests aged 12 and under are restricted from participating in this experience.
Guests aged under 16 years are restricted from participating in the 5-hour black water rafting experience.
The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, pram/stroller users, people with mobility issues, people with back and neck problems, and guests who don't have a moderate fitness level or are too small.
Prior caving or swimming experience is not required as you will have tubes and will be accompanied by expert guides.
The water temperature is approximately 10 degrees Celsius.

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

‌

Check availability

Free cancellation

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Mobile ticket

3 hr. - 5 hr.

Guided tour

4.5(0)

Black Water Rafting, Ziplining and Abseiling Guided Experience in Waitomo

Float, climb, and wade through Waitomo’s caves for a deeper dive into nature.

Best for Thrill-seekers and adventurers who crave ziplining, abseiling, and rafting through dark, subterranean rivers in Waitomo’s caves.
Book this if you want: A black water rafting adventure with ziplining, abseiling, and tubing through Ruakuri Cave’s underground waterways.
Everything you get: Expert guide, wetsuits, helmets, all safety equipment, plus access to changing rooms with hot showers after the thrill.
Make the most of rafting through the glowworm-lit darkness, plunging through underground waterfalls, and drifting peacefully through the quiet caves.

Inclusions

5-hour black water rafting tour
Underground tour of Ruakuri Cave
Ziplining, abseiling and tubing
English-speaking guide
Small group of up to 8 people
Helmet, light, and black water rafting tube
Safety equipment (footwear, tubes, wetsuits, helmets, abseiling devices)
Wetsuits, socks and shoes
Safety briefing and training
Changing rooms with hot showers

Tip: If you're looking to push your boundaries, Haggas Honking Holes offers an intense caving experience with tight squeezes and vertical climbs.
All participants on this tour must weigh at least 45 kg.
Guests aged 16 and under are restricted from participating in this experience.
The experience is not accessible for wheelchair users, pram/stroller users, people with mobility issues, people with back and neck problems, and guests who don't have a moderate fitness level or are too small.
Prior caving or swimming experience is not required as you will have tubes and will be accompanied by expert guides.
The water temperature is approximately 10 degrees Celsius.

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

‌

Check availability

Free cancellation

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Mobile ticket

5 hr.

Guided tour

From the happy customers

Loved by 35 million+

Ashley

New Zealand

Apr 2025

Very enlightening and educational. The tour guide had great communication skills and explained everything clearly. A great tour ending with boat ride out of the caves.

Megan

United Kingdom

Mar 2025

+1 more

The was truly a once in a lifetime experience! It was a fantastic combination of adrenaline rush fun, interesting local and cultural knowledge, and marveling at the natural world. Our guides were knowledgeable, fun, and kind. We felt at ease and well looked after throughout. I would highly recommend this experience.

Gary

United Kingdom

Mar 2025

+1 more

This trip was one of our best experiences in New Zealand. The river valley was beautiful, the caves were stupendous and the stalactites and stalagmites were breath-taking... and then the glow-worm cavern itself was wonderful. Ash was a great guide. Can't recommend this highly enough.

Michele

Switzerland

Feb 2025

+1 more

fantastic. 3 hours of walking through the woods and the cave. Beautiful experience. The parking lot is very spacious and clothes are provided by those who organize the trip. The group consisted of 6 people plus the guide, and we all moved together, no one stood behind. The cave is sometimes not spacious so I do not recommend the visit to people who suffer from claustrophobia and being a cave in the case of rains the trip is canceled. At the end coffee, cake and laughter

Gianfranco

Nov 2024

Lovely! I will be back 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

Murtuza

United Arab Emirates

Dec 2024

It was really an awesome experience and Jon is the best person to guide us with this wonderful tour. Each process was simple from the hotel pick up to drop off.

Roxana

Belgium

May 2024

Had a lovely time on the tour, Chris was a wonderful guide, sharing a lot of interesting facts and adding in some extra sights along the drive. Communication and scheduling was easy and precise, I appreciated the punctuality.