ruakuri caves & bush scenic reserve

This is a beautiful short walk. We did this walk at dusk and we were the only ones on the trail. Very tranquil and peaceful

This is a great short walk. We decided to drive the quick couple miles up the road from the glow worm caves and do the bush walk. There was so much to see! Caverns, caves, stalagmites, waterfalls, wildlife, plants... So much! Definitely take an hour and do this! Plus it's free!

I recommend this cave. Ruakuri tours are smaller groups of people and go at a much smoother pace than the rapid larger groups at the others. The cave has the glo worms and an underground river. In addition the cave is huge. Our tour guide led the group in a steady and non rushed tour. I learned more and enjoyed this tour. Also, I felt a little safer with the low visibility in this cave.

Good reviews and online comment prompted us to go on this tour (one of two we did over 3 days in the area). Not too long, good passageway (no problems at all), good narration by pleasant guide, good lighting when needed and excellent formations to photograph. Temperature pleasant (take at jacket/jumper) and dry feet. Good value and recommend for those of ALL ages including the elderly, mature or infirm. ENJOY :)

This was a real highlight. Our guide was super friendly and informative. In addition to the stalactites and stalagmites and other rock formations inside the caves, you also get to see the glow worms. There is a really spectacular circular staircase that is illuminated and takes you down into the caves and back out at the end of the tour.

We did the 3 Cave Combo - which we loved...I would say the Ruakuri Cave was my fav...and the bush walk is great too.

So much variety on this short tramp. Caves to explore, bridges, bush, tropical plants, rivers, tunnels. Do not miss it!

We chose one of the shorter tours for our first taste of the NZ Glowworm experience and were pleasantly surprised by how much we were able to see and do. Our guide was Lyssa and she was an expert at drawing in the children who were on our tour - she prompted them to shine their flashlights at just the right time so we could all see the tiny filaments that hang from the miniscule glowworms. She was also able to gently convince one of the guests to sing - the woman had a great voice, probably a professional singer, so the echoing sound was magical when we had all the artificial lights turned off and only had the glow of the tiny worms within the largest part of the cave. We also had incredibly good timing because the cave rafters (actually they use inner tubes) were below us while we were on this walking tour - imagine being 100 feet above a rushing river, on a metal catwalk, being perfectly quiet except for one beautiful singer, and seeing small red helmet lights bobbing below as the raft group passes beneath! And at the end of that, the tour "sweeper" gave a blood-curdling Maori-style whoop to let us know they were all past us! Wow, enough to get anyone's heart pumping! Lyssa also gave us enough history, geology, and cultural information to satisfy anyone's curiosity, and made it a truly memorable experience.

Did this as part of a package. And so glad I had in comparing both like cheese and chalk.Small groups great information, photos can be taken at leasure except for some short periods. Can see and take photos of glow worms close up. Great entrance to and from attraction and the ending was wonderful.Will not spoil surprise which may or may not impress. I got tingles. Caring to the customer . Available to disabled people and those in wheelchairs, is a bit longer but no stairs and everything easy access to all. Two hours flew by and I wanted more. It is a few minutes out of Waitomo but shuttle took us there from town of Waitomo.

The Ruakuri walk is fantastic both to do during the day or take a torch and go at night - very special as you'll see glow-worms and the bush and cave formations look great at night. Only a short drive from Waitomo so well worth the visit!

Nicky was our tour guide. She was informative, helpful, knowledgable and easy to chat with. Didn't give too much information at once and kept it simple for the younger children in our group. She made a point of making sure the children didn't miss out and spoke to them not down to them. She could alos speak to one very knowledgable chap on his terms as well. She made the 2 hours plus fly by. Would reccomend you do the Ruikuri Cave.

This is a 30 minute loop track through native forest and Karst landscape. You see caves, a resurgent stream, running water as well as plenty of limestone rock. Inside one cave I was able to see cave weta,an insect endemic to New Zealand. I also came here in January 2014 and saw glowworms after dark. Only a ten minute drive from Waitomo.

Never really been in many caves before, I guess this was a good place to start.Absolutely breathtaking. When you think it can't get much better, you reach the glow worms. Amazing.

Went in December with my husband,spiral descent down a walkway was a little eerie to start with and not for the very claustrophobic but as soon as you enter the caves this is all forgotton,it is simply another world,our eyes couldnt take it all in,the guide George was outstanding and very interesting.i would highly recommend this middle earth experience and if only choosing one cave,we preferred these to waitomo,it has heaps of glow worms too.

Most who go to the Waitomo Caves area go in for the day, do a cave adventure then head out. This was a nice way to spend some time away from crowds. It is beautiful and you can see worms if you go at night and wait for your eyes to adjust. The walk itself was cool because shaded and beautiful.