Down to Earth - Waitomo Eco Tours

We have done numerous (maybe 10) caves tours in the past. US, NZ...Big, dry, glowworms, large groups, paved, lights..all kinds.This was possibly the most physically challenging, so it is not for everyone, but it was well within our 60-ish ability. The most notable superlative for Down to Earth Tours was the intimate level of the tour. Our group had 6 people...By the end, my wife and I felt very friendly with the other people in the group. Our tour guide, Ash, took great care to make sure everyone was safe and able to do all aspects of the hike. He was caring, and funny, and informative. Easily the best and most memorable cave tour we have done. If you can deal with your own headlamp as the light source, a little climbing and squeezing in tight spaces, a little water in your boots (we were well clothed by the tour company), then we would highly recommend this trip.

Absolutely amazing experience! We researched a few companies & everything felt a bit touristy except this one & we were right! In our small group of 4, going through caves with no man made lights or paths, it felt like we were being guided by friends through their property & not on a commercial tour. Which is pretty accurate since this property & cave system has been in their family for generations! I was worried about how many glow worms we’d see & in sure it does fluctuate but we were able to see so many! Amazing experience I highly recommend! They even gave us a few complimentary photos!

We had an incredible experience on our Down to Earth tour. Our guide, Ash, was truly amazing. Not only was he friendly and welcoming, but he was also extremely knowledgeable about the caves and made the entire journey informative and fun.Ash tailored the tour to our preferences and made sure we got the most out of the trip. It was great to have such personalized attention and guidance throughout the entire adventure.The caves themselves are absolutely breathtaking. The abundance of glow worms created a magical atmosphere, and it was like stepping into a different world. The combination of fun and challenge made the experience even more exciting. It was thrilling to navigate through the caves, climb over rocks, and explore the hidden passages.Overall, I cannot recommend the Down to Earth caving tour enough. Ash's expertise, friendliness, and passion for the caves made the trip unforgettable. If you're looking for an adventure that combines natural beauty, excitement, and a knowledgeable guide, this tour is an absolute must-do.

We took the Photography Tour. The group was just my wife and me with Ash, the guide. He is excellent. He is very knowledgeable and accommodating. I took sweet old time taking long-exposure shots in the cave. Photography Tour is limited to one group per 3-hour time slot. That group can be one person or up to 4 persons. The fee is for the group, whether it be one person or 4 persons. This allows flexibility for you to take as many photos as you desire and as long an exposure as you need. They provide all the thermal clothing, boots, helmet, and head lamp that you need to explore the cave. I brought my photography gear, including a tripod and a flash. I wish I had a remote release for the camera, because that would have come handy for the bulb exposures. Nevertheless, the set up was sufficiently stable to keep my finger pressed on the shutter release for up to 3 minutes. If you want to take pictures of the glow worms, I highly recommend the Photography Tour at Down to Earth.

Awesome, family run tour. Ash was amazing, and we got to see some amazing parts of their farm and really appreciate their welcoming us! This is a technical hike and would recommend some soft rock climbing/bouldering experience for this tour.

Are you looking for heaven? No, this isn't it, but it's pretty close to what heaven must be like.I was with a group of friends on a short trip to New Zealand and about 2.5 hours drive, south of Auckland, you will find Waitomo and it is in this idyllic surrounding that you will find Down To Earth Tours.Nothing that you see online will match up to what this place is like in real life. The drive down is magical to begin with and then when you get to the place, it's even better.Our guide was Ash, and he knew his stuff! We couldn't have asked for a better guide, or a better experience.After Ash kits you out in some warm clothes and a pair of gum boots, you are all set to go!The walk down to the entrance of the caves made you feel like you were on your own Hobbit" adventure. (Excuse the "Lord of the Rings" comparisons

This a wonderful family owned farm and Ash our tour guide is Wonderful!! This place will have you shouting “ TU Micky! “ This is a slice of paradise! Take the time to appreciate the beauty the calm the peace! A place to reflect and really see that Our Creator has blessed us! We need to treat our beautiful planet better! Thank you so much for opening up your place to us. Our group of 4 really enjoyed every moment!!

Fun, informative and truly unique experience! We loved the opportunity to wade and climb through a cave that is virtually untouched. I did the tour both with a group of students and then with my husband. Both times Ash was a wonderful guide and made the experience truly memorable. We had the opportunity to see lots of glow worms as well as an eel and wetas. The clothing provided kept us warm and made everyone smile while not having to worry about getting our own clothes wet or muddy. If you're up for a small-group experience and want something a little more active and adventurous than a boat ride, this is a truly worthwhile and fantastic experience!

Wow! What an incredible experience! Ash was the most wonderful guide and had such a warm and entertaining personality, which complemented our small tour (only one other person), so well! He was incredibly attentive to my health conditions and went out of his way to check on me throughout the tour.If you are claustrophobic, this is not the tour for you. We crawled through VERY small spaces. You need to be relatively in shape, considering we climbed up and down rocks and boulders in the cave.He gave us at least 10 minutes of pure quiet in the pitch black to fully soak in the glow worms. It was such a magical moment and experience. The views throughout the tour are absolutely incredible. Tons of opportunities for pictures! I took my iPhone 13pro with me and didn’t have an issue fitting it in the pocket of the outfit that you’re provided.We were complimented with showers, cookies, and tea afterwards. The three of us shared our life and travel experiences for two hours after the tour. Ash really made you feel right at home and part of the family, which was so warming considering I was traveling solo and very far from home!

We went on an amazing adventure, with DOWN TO EARTH with Ash as our guide , climbing down to underground caves, with a fast moving river running through, eels in the water, climbing over huge boulders, on my tush a lot, water in our boots, crawling on all fours through tight places, and squeezing between huge fallen boulders. Our guide was amazing, just being our family made it nice and intimate and we could go at our own pace (mine being slow and careful). And then we came to the finale cave and saw a cave full of the glow worms all shining. It was one of our best experiences in New Zealand. Ash was very knowledgeable and paced himself to our group. Our ages ranged from 12 up to 73 and we were all able to do the hike at our pace. It was exciting and physically challenging without being impossible. I highly recommend you make the time for this event.