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Three hours in Ruakuri Cave on the trip that started blackwater rafting: float the underground river in a tube, clamber through the dark, and launch yourself off a small waterfall. Ages 12+.
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4.8 from 2,433 Google reviews
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Before blackwater rafting was an adventure-brochure category, it was this: a rubber tube, an underground river, and Ruakuri Cave. Black Labyrinth is the original Waitomo subterranean adventure, and it still hits. You'll climb, wade and float your way through the cave, riding the current in your tube through the dark, with a small waterfall jump thrown in, the kind you talk yourself into with a countdown. It's loud with water, pitch black in places, and completely unlike anything above ground. At three hours and open to ages 12+, it's the accessible way into Waitomo's underground. Do it as the day's main event, or treat it as the audition for the full-scale Black Abyss.
1 The original blackwater rafting
2 Tube an underground river
3 Leap a small underground waterfall
4 Three hours inside Ruakuri Cave
5 Ages 12+ welcome
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Verified reviews of the vetted operator who runs this tour on the ground.
The operator's track record
"Floating through underground rivers on inner tubes, climbing through ancient cave formations, and drifting silently beneath thousands of glowworms felt like something out of a movie. The moment when you turn off your headlamp and just stare at the ceiling of glowing blue lights is pure magic."
mjbrewitt
Verified traveller
"One of the most unique experience of our New Zealand Trip. Floating through the glowworm caves, climbing through underground passages, and jumping into the water made it both exciting and memorable."
Grace L
Verified traveller
Verified traveller reviews · shown as excerpts.
New Zealand
9 days · 8 nights · Auckland → Wellington
4.9 (575 · Trustpilot)
Glowworm caves, the real Hobbiton, Rotorua's geothermal wonderland and a Māori village experience, then sailing on Lake Taupo and Wellington's craft-beer laneways, the North Island's icons in nine days.
New Zealand
9 days · 8 nights · Christchurch → Queenstown
4.9 (575 · Trustpilot)
Dark-sky hot pools at Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, kayaking glacial Lake Wanaka, a Milford Sound cruise and a jet-boat finale in Queenstown, the South Island's big-ticket scenery, organised.
New Zealand
17 days · 16 nights · Auckland → Queenstown
4.9 (575 · Trustpilot)
Both islands, one booking, Hobbiton to Milford Sound with the inter-island flight included. Everything from the North and South 9-day Adventures back to back, 100% carbon neutral.
From
$189
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