Why Choose This Tour

Made for Photographers

This isn’t a standard cave tour with photography squeezed in. The experience is designed around taking photos, with time to set up, experiment with settings and get the shot you want.

Private Group of Up to Four

Your tour is reserved exclusively for your group, giving everyone more room to work with tripods, adjust compositions and spend longer at each location.

Bring the Full Kit

Larger cameras, lenses, tripods and remote shutters are welcome, provided they fit in a backpack, so your hands remain free while moving between locations. Your guide will help you move safely between locations while giving you the freedom to work with your own equipment.

More Time for Long Exposures

Glowworms reward patience. You’ll have time to compose carefully, experiment with exposure times and revisit shots without being hurried along.

More Than Glowworms

Photograph the native forest, limestone formations, cave entrances and the native plants and wildlife that make this landscape so distinctive.

See Conservation in Action

As you explore, you’ll learn about our Pākehō Restoration Project and the work underway to restore our 13-hectare property back to native forest — with every visit helping support that work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What photography gear should I bring?

While we’re not photography experts ourselves, we’ve put together these helpful tips and advice from professional photographers who have previously experienced this tour.

Do I need to be an experienced photographer?

No. You don’t need to be a professional photographer, but you should be familiar with your photography gear and comfortable adjusting settings such as exposure time, aperture and ISO.

Our guides know the best spots for glowworm photography, but they’re not professional photographers, so you should be comfortable operating your own camera and adjusting your settings.

What camera settings work best for photographing glowworms?

Glowworms are very low-light subjects, so long exposures are usually the best place to start. A tripod and remote shutter are particularly useful, and settings similar to those used for astrophotography can work well.

We recommend reading these tips and advice from professional photographers who have previously joined the tour, so you can arrive prepared and make the most of your time underground.

Will I have enough time to take long-exposure photographs?

Yes. That’s one of the main reasons this tour exists.

The experience is deliberately slower and more focused on photography than our other cave tours, giving you time to set up your tripod, compose shots, experiment with exposure times and retake images without feeling rushed. The tour is private for a maximum of four guests, so there is plenty of room to work.

What can I photograph besides glowworms?

There’s much more to photograph than the glowworm displays. The tour also includes the surrounding native forest, cave entrances, limestone formations, native plants and wildlife, and the changing natural light around the cave environment.

Is the tour as physically demanding as your other cave tours?

No. This tour follows a less adventurous route, allowing more time beneath the magical glowworms to take photos up close or from a distance, all at your own pace.

You’ll still encounter steps, uneven ground, rocks and natural terrain, so moderate fitness, good mobility and reasonable balance are required. All camera equipment must be carried securely in your backpack while moving between photography locations so your hands remain free.

What is the best time of year to photograph glowworms?

Glowworms are active year-round, so there isn’t a single best season for photography.

Summer is generally busier, while winter is quieter and can offer an even more intimate experience around Waitomo. Because the caves remain naturally dark throughout the year, glowworm photography is possible in every season.

If seeing the glowworms at their most spectacular is your priority, our Ultimate After-Dark Tour is another great option, offering some of the best glowworm viewing experiences.

Can I share this tour with others?

This is a private photography tour, so we don’t combine separate groups. Keeping the tour private gives you the space and time to take photos without other guests getting in the way of your lighting or shots. You’re very welcome to bring friends and family along with you.

Why is the minimum age 10?

The minimum age for our Private Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tour is 10. Guests need the confidence, mobility and ability to follow their guide’s instructions while navigating uneven ground, shallow water, rocks and tighter natural passages.

Because the tour is reserved exclusively for your group, your guide has more flexibility to adjust the pace and provide extra support for younger adventurers where needed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel your Glowworm Cave Photography Tour up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund. For full details, including third-party bookings and weather-related cancellations, see our Cancellation Policy.

Still have questions?

Visit our full FAQ page for more information about what to expect, what to bring, getting here and preparing for your tour.

How To Find Us

Down to Earth is located at 1199 Oparure Road, Waitomo District.

If you enter our official address (1199 Oparure Road, Waitomo District or Te Kuiti, depending on your GPS), it might take you past our entrance—about 500 meters too far!

We’re not sure why, but most GPS systems struggle to find us. So, trust our signs over your GPS when you get close!

Approximate Travel Times

We’re a small team, so we don’t offer pick-ups, but the Waitomo Information Centre can help with transport options.

• 25 min from Waitomo Caves Village
• 20 min from Te Kuiti
• 25 min from Otorohanga
• 1 hr from Hamilton
• 2 hr 40 min from Central Auckland
• 2 hr 30 min from Auckland Airport
• 2 hr from Taupo & Rotorua