Waitomo Caves

Waitomo Caves: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this cave: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Waitomo Caves

Season: Year-round; October to March is most comfortable, some caves flood in heavy rain.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Waitomo Caves — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: -38.26084, 175.10355. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Waitomo Caves

• Waitomo Caves Scenic Reserve · cave · Waitomo · ~0 km · Must-see
• Waitomo Express Train · fort · Waitomo · ~2 km · Must-see
• Aranui Cave · cave · Waitomo · ~3 km · Must-see
• Gardner's Gut · cave · Waitomo · ~3 km · Must-see
• The Big Apple · attraction · Waitomo · ~9 km · Must-see
• Te Kuiti Bible Church · church · Waitomo · ~12 km · Must-see
• Kakepuku · viewpoint · Waipā · ~31 km · Must-see
• Castle Craig · viewpoint · Waitomo · ~32 km · Must-see
• Kāwhia Harbour · beach · Ōtorohanga · ~37 km · Must-see
• Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital · fort · Waipā · ~37 km · Must-see
• Rangitoto Range · viewpoint · Ōtorohanga · ~37 km · Must-see
• Pirongia · viewpoint · Ōtorohanga · ~37 km · Must-see
• Alexandra Redoubt · fort · Waipā · ~38 km · Must-see
• Pirongia Forest Park · sanctuary · Ōtorohanga · ~40 km · Must-see
• Te Awamutu Methodist Church · church · Waipā · ~42 km · Must-see
• Saint Johns Anglican Church · church · Waipā · ~43 km · Must-see
• Herangi Range · viewpoint · Waitomo · ~44 km · Must-see
• St Paul's Church · church · Waipā · ~45 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Waitomo Caves

Other caves near Waitomo Caves

• Waitomo Caves Scenic Reserve · cave · Waitomo · ~0 km · Must-see
• Aranui Cave · cave · Waitomo · ~3 km · Must-see
• Gardner's Gut · cave · Waitomo · ~3 km · Must-see
• Karamu Caves · cave · Waipā · ~51 km · Must-see
• Mangawhitikau Cave · cave · Waitomo · ~0 km
• Waitomo Cave · cave · Waitomo · ~0 km
• Footwhistle Glowworm Caves · cave · Waitomo · ~1 km
• Waitomo Museum of Caves · cave · Waitomo · ~1 km
• Ruakuri Cave - Historic Entrance · cave · Waitomo · ~3 km
• Ruakurī Cave · cave · Waitomo · ~3 km

All caves in Waikato

Frequently asked