Black Water Rafting Experience Waitomo Caves Tour

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Highlights

  • Adventurous traveling seeking a memorable challenge will love this activity

  • Enjoy a warming shower, hot soup, and bagel afterwards

  • Choose the option that suits your schedule and comfort levels in the cave

Summary

Start your black-water tubing adventure in Waitomo. An expert guide ensures you’re properly equipped with gear — including wetsuit and inner tube — and offers some technical instruction before you descend into the underground network at Waitomo Caves.  If you choose The Labyrinth, you’ll experience walking and caving along with a small waterfall jump. Upgrade to The Black Abyss and start your invigorating journey with a rappel into the subterranean playground with your guide while suited up in helmet, boots and safety equipment. (See options below.) Prepare to be awed by a magnificent display of glowworms in addition to stalactites and stalagmites that decorate the cavern walls as you traverse through the black water. At the end of your exhilarating journey through Waitomo’s vaulted limestone galleries, enjoy a hot shower, hearty soup and bagel. The Labyrinth (3 Hours)Float on your inner tube through the remarkable underground river system at Waitomo Caves. Ride a stream that twists and turns through a canyon, and tumble down a hidden waterfall and rock slide before emerging into the sun-dappled Waitomo forest. The Black Abyss (5 Hours)Those with a moderate level of fitness can up the ante on this Waitomo tubing adventure. After abseiling training and practice with your guide, you’ll rappel 121 feet (37 meters) into the black water–filled abyss. Enjoy adrenaline-fueled fun as you clamber down, float through the canyon and scramble up waterfalls before resurfacing into daylight.

Tour info

Duration
5 hours
Group Size
Pricing (From)
Commentary
Meeting Point
Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

If you've tried white-water rafting and want to turn up the excitement dial, don't miss this chance to go black-water rafting in the spectacular Waitomo Caves. Grab a tube and float along the underground rivers and passages of the huge cave system, spotting glowworms and other incredible cave features along the way. Choose between a three and five-hour trip, the latter of which includes abseiling.

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What’s included?

  • Abseiling techniques training (if option chosen)

  • The use of equipment such as tubes, wetsuits, boots, helmets, abseiling devices (if option chosen) and safety equipment

  • Complimentary hot shower

  • Entry to Waitomo Cave Museum

  • Gratuities

  • Hotel pickup and drop off

  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Things to know

Before you book

  • Duration: 5h

  • Mobile tickets accepted

Covid Policy

  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Covid Practices: We will be requesting all visitors sign in upon arrival for contact tracing, we will be maintaining social distancing and implementing cleaning practices throughout the day as well as hand sanitizer

Cancellation Policy

    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Operator Website

Operated by:

The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.

About operator:

Waitomo’s Original Black Water Rafting Operator & Legendary for 30 Years! We’ve been sharing thrills and excitement for over 3 decades and have experienced guides who’ll take you safely through the stunning underworld of Ruakuri Cave. We will take you deep underground on the most unreal subterranean journey that’ll have you begging for more! After you’ve jumped off a few waterfalls and pushed yourself to the limits, warm up with a hot shower and treat yourself to some hot soup on bagels, on us. Black Labyrinth: The original Waitomo black water rafting tour that will have you exploring and tubing through mysterious Ruakuri Cave. Grab a group of mates, some rubber tubes, and let’s take you on an unreal underground adventure you will never forget. Black Abyss For the ultimate in adventure caving tours, look no further than the Black Abyss. You'll descend into the black, seemingly bottomless depths of Ruakuri Cave, zipline through a gallery of illuminating glowworms and climb underground.

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