Ruakuri Cave Tour
Discover the ancient and spiritually significant Ruakuri Caves, displaying stalactites and stalagmites that were formed millions of years ago. It has been passed through Maori legend that the Ruakuri Caves were discovered 400-500 years ago by a Maori hunter who stumbled on the cave in search of birds to hunt. The entrance to the cave was surrounded by a pack of wild dogs, hence its name in Maori, ‘rua’ den and ‘kuri’ dogs was given. This story along with the significance of being a sacred burial site are all elements in adding to the beauty of this cave system. On your guided tour you’ll visit Holdens Cavern, The Drum Passage, The Pretties, and The Ghost Passage, each with an interesting story behind its name, so make sure to ask your guide!
- Guided tour of the stalactites and stalagmites formed millions of years ago on the longest underground walking tour in Waitomo
- Explore the several caves of Holdens Cavern, The Drum Passage, The Pretties, and The Ghost Passage which make up Ruakuri Caves
- Learn about how Ruakuri Caves got its name from Maori legend
How To Get There:
- Meeting Point address: 585 Waitomo Village Road (formerly Waitomo Caves Road), Waitomo Caves
- How to get there: 2.5 hour (200km) drive from Auckland, 2 hour drive from Rotorua
Confirmation:
- You will receive confirmation of your booking’s availability within 1 business day. Once confirmed, we will send you the voucher via email
- In the event that you do not receive an email from us, please check your Spam folder or notify us via email
