Kiwitrips logo
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui
Waitomo
Waitomo

Tauranga

Tauranga → Waitomo

7 hours Up to 12 guests Tauranga pickup

Tauranga → Waitomo — photo 1

Overview

Travel from Tauranga to Waitomo through the Waikato. Visit the famous Glowworm Caves for the underground boat ride, explore the visitor centre, and finish with drop-off at your Waitomo or nearby accommodation. Add Black Water Rafting or Ruakuri Cave for a longer day.

Fully private, fully flexible

Private car and driver for up to 10 hours (one-way) with unlimited kilometres. Stop wherever you like, linger longer at one spot, skip another, or change plans on the day.

Highlights

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves
  • Limestone landscapes
  • Optional Ruakuri Cave
  • King Country scenery

Your day at a glance

You pick the start time. Most guests leave around 9:00 am and are back by roughly 4 pm. Earlier or later starts are fine — just tell us at checkout. Nothing below is a fixed schedule; your driver flexes with how long you want at each spot.

  1. 1
    Pickup from Tauranga
  2. 2
    Waitomo Glowworm Caves experience
  3. 3
    Lunch in Waitomo village
  4. 4
    Optional Ruakuri Cave or Black Water Rafting
  5. 5
    Drop-off at Waitomo accommodation

This route is a suggestion, not a timetable

  • Booking this trip doesn't lock you into these exact places. On the day you can ask your driver to skip a stop, linger longer somewhere, or head somewhere else entirely.
  • The one thing we do need to keep is where you're picked up and where you finish — those stay as booked.
  • Your booked time still applies (7 hours for this trip). Your driver has to get home too, so anything beyond that needs to be arranged and paid for in advance.

Price covers the private vehicle, driver and fuel. Activity tickets (e.g. Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, geothermal parks) are the customer's responsibility.

What's included

  • Private vehicle & driver
  • Tauranga pickup
  • Waitomo area drop-off
  • Fuel & road costs
  • Flexible sightseeing stops

What's not included

  • Cave entry tickets
  • Optional activities
  • Meals & drinks
  • Travel insurance

Pickup points

These are just examples. We can pick you up from any address inside Tauranga — your hotel, home, airport or anywhere else within the town boundaries. Just type your address when you book.

  • Tauranga CBD hotels
  • Mount Maunganui accommodation

What to bring

  • Warm layer for the caves
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Water bottle

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add Black Water Rafting?

Yes. Let us know in advance so we can extend the day and timing.

Is this suitable for young children?

The glowworm cave boat ride is suitable for most ages. Black Water Rafting has age and height restrictions.

Where can I be dropped off?

We can drop you at Waitomo accommodation or continue to nearby towns such as Te Kuiti or Otorohanga.

Reviews

Leave a review →

Loading reviews…

From
$910.00 NZD
Book this tour