The big-three Waitomo Caves are all operated by the same company, based at the spectacular Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre (near the Glowworm Cave). Various combo deals are available, including a Triple Cave Combo (adult/child $97/44), and other deals incorporate exciting underground thrills with the Legendary Black Water Rafting Company. Check the website. For the cave tours, try to avoid the large tour groups, most of which arrive between 10.30am and 2.30pm.
Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre
Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
糖心传媒's must-see attractions
0.09 MILES
The guided tour of the Glowworm Cave, which is behind the visitor centre, leads past impressive stalactites and stalagmites into a large cavern known as鈥
20.97 MILES
Te Awamutu Museum has a superb collection of M膩ori taonga (treasures) and an excellent display on the Waikato War. The highlight is the revered Te Uenuku 鈥
22.57 MILES
Before the Waikato invasion, Rangiaowhia (5km east of Te Awamutu on Rangiaowhia Rd; ask at the i-SITE for directions) was a thriving M膩ori farming town,鈥
20.38 MILES
From K膩whia Wharf, a track extends along the coast to Maketu Marae, which has an impressively carved meeting house, Auaukiterangi. Two stones here 鈥 Hani鈥
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
28.64 MILES
A community trust has erected 47km of pest-proof fencing around the triple peaks of Maungatautari (797m) to create the impressive Sanctuary Mountain鈥
1.51 MILES
Ruakuri Cave has an impressive 15m-high spiral staircase, bypassing a M膩ori burial site at the cave entrance. Tours lead through 1.6km of the 7.5km system鈥
22.58 MILES
All that remains of Rangiaowhia is the cute 1854 Anglican St Paul鈥檚 Church and the Catholic mission鈥檚 cemetery, standing in the midst of rich farming land鈥
18.44 MILES
The main attraction of the 170-sq-km Pirongia Forest Park is Mt Pirongia, its 959m summit clearly visible from much of the Waikato. The mountain is鈥
Nearby Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula attractions
0.09 MILES
The guided tour of the Glowworm Cave, which is behind the visitor centre, leads past impressive stalactites and stalagmites into a large cavern known as鈥
2. Waitomo isite Visitor Information Centre
0.3 MILES
Adjoining the Waitomo isite, the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre has excellent exhibits explaining how caves are formed, the flora and fauna that thrive鈥
0.87 MILES
Near Waitomo Adventures, a steep 20-minute walk leads through bush then along farmland to the abandoned Opapake Pa, where terraces and kumara pits are鈥
1.25 MILES
Three kilometres west from the Glowworm Cave is Aranui Cave. This cave is dry (hence no glowworms) but compensates with an incredible array of limestone鈥
1.51 MILES
Ruakuri Cave has an impressive 15m-high spiral staircase, bypassing a M膩ori burial site at the cave entrance. Tours lead through 1.6km of the 7.5km system鈥
6. Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro
6.02 MILES
Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro is a beautiful pavilion of etched-glass, tukutuku (woven flax panels) and wooden carvings that celebrates the town鈥檚 history.
6.14 MILES
Located in the same building as the Te Kuiti i-SITE, this interesting exhibition of sporting memorabilia is a tribute to Sir Colin Meads and his brother鈥
6.15 MILES
This statue commemorates the late Sir Colin Meads, a legendary captain of the All Blacks, and regarded as one of New Zealand's finest rugby players鈥