Ruakuri Cave

13 Rankers Reviews

10 Face-to-Face

18 Waitomo

Maps

Photos

Ruakuri Cave's spiral entrance

Information

Ruakuri Cave

Discover Waitomo's longest underground guided walking tour

Ruakuri Cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo's most compelling subterranean experiences. Journey down through the spectacular spiral entrance, and marvel at the shawl-like limestone formations and crystal tapestries. Hear the distant thunder of the subterranean waterfalls and get up close to the glowworms.

Ruakuri Cave is New Zealand's longest guided underground walking tour. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature.

With clever and innovative design, Ruakuri Cave is the only wheelchair accessible cave in the Southern Hemisphere.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.

Commercial organisation

Location

North IslandWaikatoWaitomo

Categories

  • Activity__cavingCaving

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.2639960763871

175.125510597229

Latitude
-38.2639960763871
Longitude
175.125510597229

Reviews

    • Very good.
    • This was a great experience.
    • Very cool.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 4
    31%
    9/10 0
    0%
    8/10 5
    38%
    7/10 2
    15%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 1
    8%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 1
    8%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.0/5

    We had a good guide, who told a lot about the cave.

    Very nice cave, also with glowworms.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jeny Smolders's avatar

    Jeny Smolders

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very cool.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    CANADA
    Sarah Rushton's avatar

    Sarah Rushton

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    This was a great experience.

    I had never been in caves before this one, so I had no idea what to expect. I was amased by the professional quality of the tour guide, the entrance spiral to the cave, and the length of the tour. I understand that there may be not as much to see compared with other world attractions, but I would not let other opinions reduce the experience for myself.

    The entrance spiral to the cave reminded me of the opening to The Muppet Show, with an enjoyable play of lighting effects. The whole tour through the caves is well lit, so we could all see the natural rock formations, and at length due to the unrushed nature of the tour. The group size was small and there was always opportunities to ask questions.

    I have recommended this experience to other people, and I would return to enjoy it again.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    Carl_Larsen's avatar

    Carl_Larsen

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very hidden entrance, but a wonderful walk to another cave and you walk through caves.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    GERMANY
    Kris's avatar

    Kris

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Walk took around 1 hour and was one of the best short walks that we have done.

    Great caves and beautiful track.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Natalie Maguire's avatar

    Natalie Maguire

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Thoroughly enjoyed the caves and the humour and expertise of the guide.

    Well worth the money and better value than the more touristy caves. 16/06/08

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Karen Knight's avatar

    Karen Knight

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    We loved Ruakuri Cave, we thought the Glowworms cave was a bit too touristy, as it has been modified a lot for example the floor, we loved the glowworms but it was a bit short.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in February 2011

    CANADA
    Valerie's avatar

    Valerie

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    The great thing about the Ruakuri cave is it's accessibility.

    The cave is wheelchair accessible... not so sure about the bus that takes you there though. Maybe ask the operator about that if you are in need of wheelchair access.

    It's not a particularly fabulous cave for crystal formations. There are a couple of sections with "pretties" some nice shawls, stalactites and stalagmites, flowstone and so on, but they are not on the scale of places like Jenolan Caves in Australia. We still enjoyed this cave though. It does have some glow worms as well and for those tall enough to look over the railing, views of the river below and on the first tour of the day we watched the black water rafters pass by below.

    If you are looking for "pretties" in Waitomo the Aranui Cave is the best you will do.. ruarkuri was fun though.. but we do enjoy walking around caves. Each has their own personality.

    In the Ruakuri cave there were interesting stories about the construction work for redevelopement of the cave. the giant spiral ramp into the cave and teh tunnel from there were fun we thought. Very James Bond. It is expensive for what you get, which reflects the cost of development.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    snodge's avatar

    snodge

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    Thought this was quite boring - already know this kind of cave.

    Nice to see, but nothing special.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    GERMANY
    Jessica Jahn's avatar

    Jessica Jahn

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    The Ruakuri cave was disappointing - not spectacular.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    kevinp's avatar

    kevinp

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    We had a good guide, who told a lot about the cave.

    Very nice cave, also with glowworms.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jeny Smolders's avatar

    Jeny Smolders

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    We loved Ruakuri Cave, we thought the Glowworms cave was a bit too touristy, as it has been modified a lot for example the floor, we loved the glowworms but it was a bit short.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in February 2011

    CANADA
    Valerie's avatar

    Valerie

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Walk took around 1 hour and was one of the best short walks that we have done.

    Great caves and beautiful track.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Natalie Maguire's avatar

    Natalie Maguire

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very hidden entrance, but a wonderful walk to another cave and you walk through caves.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    GERMANY
    Kris's avatar

    Kris

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    This was a great experience.

    I had never been in caves before this one, so I had no idea what to expect. I was amased by the professional quality of the tour guide, the entrance spiral to the cave, and the length of the tour. I understand that there may be not as much to see compared with other world attractions, but I would not let other opinions reduce the experience for myself.

    The entrance spiral to the cave reminded me of the opening to The Muppet Show, with an enjoyable play of lighting effects. The whole tour through the caves is well lit, so we could all see the natural rock formations, and at length due to the unrushed nature of the tour. The group size was small and there was always opportunities to ask questions.

    I have recommended this experience to other people, and I would return to enjoy it again.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    Carl_Larsen's avatar

    Carl_Larsen

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    The great thing about the Ruakuri cave is it's accessibility.

    The cave is wheelchair accessible... not so sure about the bus that takes you there though. Maybe ask the operator about that if you are in need of wheelchair access.

    It's not a particularly fabulous cave for crystal formations. There are a couple of sections with "pretties" some nice shawls, stalactites and stalagmites, flowstone and so on, but they are not on the scale of places like Jenolan Caves in Australia. We still enjoyed this cave though. It does have some glow worms as well and for those tall enough to look over the railing, views of the river below and on the first tour of the day we watched the black water rafters pass by below.

    If you are looking for "pretties" in Waitomo the Aranui Cave is the best you will do.. ruarkuri was fun though.. but we do enjoy walking around caves. Each has their own personality.

    In the Ruakuri cave there were interesting stories about the construction work for redevelopement of the cave. the giant spiral ramp into the cave and teh tunnel from there were fun we thought. Very James Bond. It is expensive for what you get, which reflects the cost of development.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    snodge's avatar

    snodge

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    The Ruakuri cave was disappointing - not spectacular.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    kevinp's avatar

    kevinp

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very cool.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    CANADA
    Sarah Rushton's avatar

    Sarah Rushton

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Thoroughly enjoyed the caves and the humour and expertise of the guide.

    Well worth the money and better value than the more touristy caves. 16/06/08

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Karen Knight's avatar

    Karen Knight

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    Thought this was quite boring - already know this kind of cave.

    Nice to see, but nothing special.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    GERMANY
    Jessica Jahn's avatar

    Jessica Jahn

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Very good.

    Well organised and minimum impact on the cave system.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Alan Bellerby's avatar

    Alan Bellerby

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Better value - longer than the other tour and more to see.

    Reviewed almost 17 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Mum!'s avatar

    Mum!

    Customer