Where to Find Walking Trails in Waitomo
Believe it or not, there’s more to Waitomo than magnificent limestone caves filled with twinkling glowworms. If you have more time in this popular hotspot of the North Island, then it’s definitely worth stretching your legs on one of the nearby walks. We’ll go through the walking highlights with this list of the best walks in Waitomo!
While this list covers some of the closest walks to Waitomo, there are more short walks (under 30 minutes) available a short drive east of Waitomo down State Highway 37, such as the Mangapohue Natural Bridge and Marokopa Falls. Find out more about visiting those attractions in our 16 Free Things to Do in Waitomo. Plus, if you have more time, you’ll find more excellent walking trails near the town of Piopio.
1. Ruakuri Bushwalk (45 Minutes Return)
The most popular walk in the Waitomo area is the 45-minute return Ruakuri Bushwalk. By day, enjoy the walk in an attractive forest setting with the river by your side the whole way. The walk also features small caves and limestone formations. By night, take a torch and keep an eye out for glowworms alongside the track. The Ruakuri Bush and Scenic Reserve also has coin-operated barbecues, as well as a picnic area.
Location: Tumutumu Road
© James Shook on Wikipedia2. Waitomo Walkway (2h30min Return)
Accessible from Waitomo Village, the Waitomo Walkway is one of the easiest walks to access. Enjoy spectacular views across the region from the Waitomo Lookout as you walk through a mix of rolling green farmland and native forest. There are a few limestone karst formations to marvel at as well. This walk joins with the Ruakuri Bushwalk (see above).
Location: Opposite the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre in Waitomo Village
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Opapaka Pa Walk (50 Minutes Return)
Get a taste for New Zealand native forest at the beginning of the Opapaka Pa Walk. Trees are labelled to tell you more about each specimen before the track steeply ascends over farmland to a pa site – the site of an old Maori village. You can still see trenches and kumara pits (food storage pits). Interpretation panels help visualise what the village would have looked like.
Location: Waitomo Caves Road
© Alex Indigo on Flickr4. Waitomo Guided Cave Walks (1 Hour)
For a walk with a difference, consider one of the underground walking tours available in Waitomo. Your guide will take you along platforms and cave floor walkways to see limestone formations, such as stalactites and stalagmites, as well as groups of glowworms, both glistening on the cave ceilings and close-up. Book your walking cave tour with Discover Waitomo (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor), Glowing Adventures or Cave World Waitomo (on Viator and Tripadvisor). Tours usually last about 1 hour to 1h15mins. See 6 Ways to Take On the Waitomo Caves for more information.
Location: Waitomo Caves Road
© THL5. Mangaokewa Reserve Walk (1-hour Return)
Another fantastic walking option in the Waitomo area is a short drive away just outside of the town of Te Kuiti. The Mangaokewa Reserve has a picturesque picnic area and a 1-hour walk through a lush forest to a cascading waterfall. There is also a walk as part of the Te Aroroa Trail which follows the Mangaokewa River. Check out more things to do in Te Kuiti here.
Location: State Highway 30, 22km south of Waitomo
© NZPocketGuide.comSources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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