Five hundred reviews is a number we're incredibly proud of.

We reached that milestone in July 2026, just 14 months after welcoming our first guests in May 2025. Across Google, GetYourGuide, and Viator/Tripadvisor, those reviews have also maintained a five-star overall rating.

Not because it's a milestone, but because every review represents a group of people who trusted us with a few hours of their New Zealand holiday. They climbed, swam, floated on tubes beneath thousands of glowworms, then took the time afterwards to tell others what the experience meant to them.

For a small, family-owned business that started with a simple idea of offering a more personal way to experience Waitomo, that's something worth celebrating.

The words we hear again and again

When we looked back through our reviews from recent months, a pattern quickly appeared.

People use different words, but they describe remarkably similar feelings.

Many tell us the Okohua Glowworm Cave Tour became:

• "Probably the best experience I've had on my New Zealand holiday."
• "One of the highlights of our trip."
• "This is the best activity I've done in New Zealand."
• "The most incredible experience."

We never ask guests what to write. Those are simply the words they choose when they get home.

What also stands out is the consistency. Almost every review has been five stars.

Seeing those themes repeated hundreds of times reminds us why we do what we do.

More than just seeing glowworms

Most people come to Waitomo expecting to see glowworms.

What surprises many is that the glowworms become just one part of the story.

Guests talk about floating quietly beneath them.

They describe them as "magical", "a starry sky underground", and even "a whole beautiful galaxy of glowworms."

One recent guest summed it up perfectly:

"I genuinely don't think there's a better way to see glowworms than this."

That experience is only possible because you're not standing on a viewing platform. You're moving through the cave itself, in a small group of no more than six, on our private family farm.

Small groups make a big difference

When we designed The Waitomo Experience, we deliberately chose quality over volume.

We wanted guests to have time to explore, ask questions, and experience the cave without feeling rushed.

The reviews suggest that decision has mattered.

Guests regularly mention that the experience felt:

• "More intimate."
• "Not over commercialised with huge groups."
• "Almost like a private experience just for us."

It's easy to focus on glowworms, but often it's the quieter moments between them that people remember most.

Our guides are mentioned almost every day

One thing stood out more than anything else in the reviews.

Our guides.

Guests consistently mention feeling safe, supported, and encouraged throughout the adventure.

Comments like:

• "Made us feel completely safe."
• "I felt very safe and supported the whole way."
• "Knowledgeable guide."
• "Super friendly guides."

The cave hasn't changed.

What changes every day is the group that walks through it, and our guides take pride in helping every guest build confidence while exploring the cave at a pace that suits them.

And yes, the cedar hot tubs deserve their own mention

There's another feature that appears in review after review.

The cedar hot tubs.

After spending time in cool underground water, the contrast of stepping into warm cedar tubs surrounded by native bush is something guests remember.

Many simply describe them as:

• "The perfect finish."
• "A great way to warm up."
• "The ideal finish."

It's a small part of the day, but it often becomes one of the lasting memories.

Thank you

Reaching 500 online reviews is something we'll celebrate.

But more importantly, it's a reminder that hundreds of travellers from around the world have shared a few hours with us on our family farm and left with memories worth writing about.

Whether you visited last month or several years ago, thank you for choosing to explore the Okohua Glowworm Cave with us.

And if you've left a review, thank you for taking the time to help future travellers discover a different side of Waitomo.

We read every single one.

Thinking about visiting?

If you're looking for a more personal way to experience Waitomo, our small-group adventures are limited to six guests and take place on private family land.

Expect to climb, swim, float on tubes beneath glowworms, and move through a natural cave rather than along walkways. Afterwards, warm up in our cedar hot tubs before heading home.

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