More information......

See New Zealand's world-famous glow worms and stunning cave formations in the Milky Way Glowworm Cave at Waipu Caves Farm Park.  The sound of the stream, the stalactites and water dripping, the sparkle of glow worms so close in the darkness of the underworld, this intense beauty will leave you in awe. 

See ancient moa bones in the cave from a time when they roamed the bush.  We focus on educating our visitors about the cave, how it was formed and how to look after caves.  So, if you love learning and seeing nature you need to come here.  We also allow you to take photos, which many other cave tourism operators will not allow. 

The tour path is set up in such a way that you get a real feeling of the cave environment in a safe way.   

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There 2 different tour options with several times for each tour each day.

 

Shorter option takes 60 minutes return to the office and goes into the Milky Way Glowworm Cave, 125m into the Milky Way Chamber and gives about 35 minutes in the cave.  This is the tour we have been running since we opened in 2023.  It is suitable for all ages. 

Adults (age 16 +): $45 each.  Kids (age 5 to 15): $30 each.  Preschool (under 5): free.

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Longer option takes 90 minutes return to the office and does the same as the shorter tour, but also adds the Starburst Cathedral which is 250m into the cave and gives about 60-70 minutes in the cave.  This longer tour was opened at Christmas 2025.  It is for ages 13 years and upwards.  This is only because younger children sometimes don't handle the length of time of the tour. 

Adults (age 16 +): $80 each.  Kids (age 13 to 15): $50 each.  No children under 13 years.

  

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Open Hours & Tour Times

Open for tours each day with more (12-18 tours per day) during the peak summer season, less (8-10) during the off peak season in winter.

Closed Christmas Day.

Look at our online booking schedule for our tour times.

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How to book.     

Book online by clicking big blue buttons or you can email us: waipucaves@gmail.com, or phone us: 094302722.

We do keep some space in each tour for people who have not booked online.  However, we encourage you to book online to reduce risk of long waits or missing out. 

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Gift Vouchers.     

Buy a gift voucher online by clicking here (Gift Voucher) or the small blue buttons or you can email us: waipucaves@gmail.com, or phone us: 094302722.  You can buy multiple vouchers at once at set amounts or a 'custom amount' which you can type what you like.  The gift voucher can be emailed to you or direct to your recipient and you can type a message to your recipient.  They will then be able to click our book now button and select the tour date and time they want and enter the voucher number to pay.

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Cancelation or Reschedule Policy

If you cancel, change, are running late, don't show up...

Up to 24 hours out from tour time you get a refund less 10% (minimum $10) fee or full reschedule.  Email us.

If you have booked through another agency, website, booking platform, travel broker there will likely be other fees for a cancellation. Any refunds must come from the entity you paid. 

Within 24 hours, No refund, however, we could reschedule to a later time if possible.  Phone us to reschedule.

If you are running late to get here we will try to move you to a later time.  Phone us.  

If you booked for a tour with us directly or through another method but think we are in a different location or town in NZ and show up there, we will not refund, but we will reschedule you to visit us.

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If we cancel....

In the event of very bad weather (very heavy and prolonged rain) we may not run the tour and can either refund you in full or reschedule you to a different time.  Whichever you prefer.  If you have booked online we will try to let you know before you arrive.

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Heavy Rain, Flood Risk and Safety.

We have a flood water diverter.  This means that if there is heavy rain, which make stream water levels rise outside the cave, all flood water is diverted so that no floodwater enters the cave.  This protects the cave and means we can run tours all the time.  Only in an extremely heavy and prolonged (days long) storm would we need to close the cave tours.  This is in part because the walk to the cave will not be very nice.   

With this new flood water diverter (installed July 2025) it will mean, of the approx. 4500 tour time slot each year, we may only close for 50 of them.

We monitor weather maps every day and several times when storms or heavy rain is due or near.  If we have any safety concerns we do not run the tours.  If in doubt phone us. 

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Schools.

School groups including home school groups who come as a class during the week get a special tour suited more for age appropriate education.  

Price is $17.50 per person whether they are students, teachers or parent help.  This price includes use of the rest of the property to run activity rotations.  You may also want us to run other activities for you, such as archery.

Contact us to arrange booking as this can't be booked online.  You will be allocated a time which fits with the online booking schedule.

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What to wear.

The temperature in the cave is about 15 degrees Celsius so during warmer months it is nice and cool.  During cooler months you may want to wear a fleece or jacket.  Any footwear you feel comfortable in walking on a gravel walking track to the cave is ok and in the cave it is a concrete path.  We provide torches, but you are welcome to bring your own if you like.  You don't need a helmet. 

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Cave care.

Don't touch the rock walls, roof, cave formations, glowworms or their webs.

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FAQ

Will we see glowworms? 

Yes, you will see them at any time of the day and throughout the year, and you will see them very close up.  It is always dark in the cave and they are always glowing.

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How long is the tour?

The shorter tour to the Milky Way Chamber is 1 hour return to the office with about 35 minutes in the cave.

The longer tour to the Starburst Cathedral is 1.5 hours return to the office with about 60-70 minutes in the cave.

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How far do we walk?

Both tour options are 300m from the office.

The shorter tour is 125m into the cave, so a total of 850m return.

The longer tour is 250m into the cave, so a total of 1.1km.

This is at a slow pace.  If you have a physical impairment, we can arrange for you to park your vehicle 50m from the cave entrance.

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Is it cold in the cave?

It is about 15 degrees Celsius or 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  In summer this is a nice temperature to walk into for the time of the tour.

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Do we get wet in the cave?

No, you are on a formed concrete path.  You may have a few drops of water drip from the cave formations on the cave roof onto you.

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Do we need a torch?

No, we provide you with a torch, but you can bring your own if you like.

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Can we walk in by ourselves without a guide?

No, this is a privately owned cave and it is strictly managed to protect it, which is why it is so pristine.

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Can we take photographs or video?

Yes, and please share with your friends.  Turn off your flash, adjust your screen light to low.  When you are looking at your phone or camera your eyes will not adjust to the darkness and you will see less glowworms as a result.

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Is this cave connected to other caves?

No.

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Can we bring our dog with us?

No.  This is a 'no dogs allowed' property.  If you are traveling with your dog, it can stay in your vehicle or be tied beside your vehicle for a short time while you do a tour.

 

Can we have a private tour?

Yes.  Email or speak to us.  A private tour means no other tourists will join the tour.  You could have up to 15 people in your private group.  This could be good for a photography club of famous people. 

A private tour for the shorter option is $700. 

A private tour for the longer option is $ 1200.

Private tours are best done as the last tour of the day.  There may be 1-2 other groups which walk past you while doing your private tour.

If you are after a larger group then speak to us.

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Can we have a wedding or ceremony in the cave?

Yes.  Speak to us about this.  

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​​This page edited 26th December 2025 by Ian Fox.

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