Blackwater Rafting in the TumuTumu Cave is a great Kiwi adventure not to be missed. An experience without the scary challenges. Float down an underground river, slip into fast waters, jump off waterfalls, and take in the magic of the glow worm-studded Ruakuri Cave. Get close and personal to New Zealand’s iconic national bird at Kiwi House and native bird park.

Equipped with all the caving gear you need – wetsuit, helmet, footwear, and most important of all, meeting your friendly and passionate guides, it’s time to gear up and test out your tubing skills. Once you’re comfortable in your tube you’ll enter the cave through a hole in the rock and be straight into the underground waters. Spend the next 3 hours weaving around and climbing over rocks, jumping off not-too-high waterfalls, floating beneath a sky of glow worms, and most importantly, having the most fun you’ve ever had in the dark. Your guides will share stories of local Māori legends, how these limestone caves and their features have formed, as well as tell you the unusual life cycle of the glowworms. They’ll also provide some sweet treats along the way.

After three magical hours, you’ll emerge into a native bush in the Waitomo Forest, refresh with a hot shower, then enjoy a delicious BBQ buffet lunch at the homestead of Waitomo and continue to visit Kiwi house native bird park to get close and personal to New Zealand’s iconic national bird.