Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s what makes us special:

• We operate on our own private farmland.
• We're the smallest of the five cave tour companies in Waitomo.
• We are family-owned and operated.
• Our tours are intimate, with groups of 8 or fewer.
• We provide all the necessary clothing and equipment for a genuine caving experience.
• Our caves are untouched by human hands, offering a true adventure.
• Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and we have an exciting plan to transform our land into native forest.

We’re not your average tour company—and that's what makes us unique!

Nothing at all! We provide everything you’ll need, including boots. You’ll likely get a little wet, but don’t worry—we’ll take care of the clean-up while you enjoy the rest of your day!

If you’re bringing a phone, we recommend using a phone lanyard to keep it safe — and we do sell them onsite if you need one.

Once you arrive at our office, you’re already at the start of your adventure — no minivan transfers or bumpy country-road drive needed. From where you park, it’s a short, scenic walk through our farmland and bush to the cave entrance (around 10 minutes on foot).

We’re about a 20-minute drive from Waitomo Caves Village. Waitomo is both a small village and a much larger district — and we’re located within the Waitomo district, just not in the village itself. We also don’t share the village cave system — we have our own private caves right here on our farm, so you don’t need to drive via the village (it can take longer). Just pop Down to Earth Eco Cave Tours into your GPS for the quickest route.

Still unsure? Click here for more detailed directions

You’ll be underground for around 2 hours, with the full experience lasting about 3-3.5 hours. Here’s the rough breakdown:

• 20 minutes: gear fitting, safety briefing, and getting ready

• 10 minutes: walk from the office to the cave entrance

• 10–15 minutes: a scenic bush walk through the Mangapu Gorge (your warm-up!)

• 2 hours: cave exploration, including multiple glowworm displays along the way

• 10 minutes: walk back to the office

Afterwards, you’re welcome to take your time changing and enjoy a tea or coffee with cookies.

Booking ahead is a good idea! As a small, family-run business, we only offer two tours per day. Lock in your spot, and we can guarantee a memorable adventure.

Your guide will take photos during your tour and we’ll email them to you at no extra charge. They’re sent via an automated system the day after your tour, using the email address you enter on the iPad when you arrive.

If you can’t find them, please check your spam/junk folder (they often end up there). Still no luck? Contact us and we’ll help track them down.

The entire tour covers about 2km at a slow pace, with plenty of time to stop, take photos, and soak up the atmosphere.

As there are no footpaths, handrails, or modifications inside our cave, the activity is adventurous and requires a moderate to good level of fitness.

• Would you be comfortable going on a half-day forest walk or hill walk?
• Can you walk up five flights of stairs unassisted?
• Are you comfortable wading through knee-high water?
• Can you balance well while stepping from rock to rock?

If you answered "Yes," it sounds like you're ready for our adventure!

Please note: The Photography Tour not as adventurous, as less time is spent exploring and more time is spent concentrating on photography.

Totally understandable — a lot of people wonder this before they come. There are a few narrower spots where you’ll need to bend down or do a short crouch/crawl to get through to the bigger caverns. There’s no extended crawling, and nothing that requires you to wriggle on your stomach. Most of the tour is walking through more open passages and over rocks in large chambers.

The tour follows a shallow stream. You’re not fully submerged, but you can expect water in your boots, and the water level can be up to your knees (or higher) depending on the day. Boots, clothing, and socks are provided.

If you’re feeling a bit unsure, just flick us a message before you book — we’re happy to chat it through and help you figure out if it’s the right fit.

Waitomo is a gorgeous rural spot (and a little off the beaten track!), so transport options can be a bit limited. Just a heads-up: Down to Earth doesn’t offer pick-ups.

Most of our visitors hire a rental car, as it’s the easiest way to get around this part of the Waikato.

There’s no Uber/ride share available locally, and public transport only reaches Ōtorohanga, Te Kūiti, or Waitomo Village. From there, it’s around 15km to Down to Earth Cave Tours.

Local transfers / taxi-style options:

• Kiwitown Taxi Services (Ōtorohanga-based) – a good option for Ōtorohanga / Te Kūiti pick-ups (often by arrangement).
• Kiaora Cabs (Ōtorohanga) – another local taxi option.

Private chauffeur (longer-distance travel):

• Prioritylane – a premium private transfer service (great if you’d like door-to-door travel and you’re coming from further away). Based in Auckland.

For the most up-to-date transport options, we also recommend contacting the Waitomo i-SITE / Information Centre.

We have plenty of free parking on-site!

If your plans change, let us know as soon as possible. If you give us enough notice, we can offer a refund. Unfortunately, we can’t provide refunds within 24 hours of your tour due to the difficulty of filling spots last minute. Please refer to our cancellation policy for more details.

A little rain won’t stop us! You might get a bit wet on the walk to the caves, but that's all part of the adventure. We have raincoats available if needed. If there’s heavy rain or flooding, we may have to cancel for safety reasons. You’ll receive a full refund if this happens, and we’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Quick tip: Always provide a contact number when booking, so we can reach you if anything changes.

Yes — for safety, we have minimum ages:

• Off the Beaten Track Tour: 12 years+

• Private Tours: 10 years+

These are safety requirements due to uneven terrain, low light conditions, and sections that require careful footing and balance. They also help ensure everyone can move at a steady pace and enjoy the experience as a group, without feeling rushed or held back.