Most guests do not need more gear. They just need the right few things.

For your Waitomo cave tour, please bring a towel, swimwear, and socks. These three items make the experience smoother before and after you move through the Okohua Glowworm Cave.

Bring Swimwear

You will wear swimwear underneath your wetsuit.

This is an active caving experience, so you will be climbing, swimming, floating on tubes, and moving through water inside the cave. Your normal clothes stay dry while you are underground.

Bring a Towel

Please bring your own towel for after the tour.

We do have towels available to rent onsite for $5 each, but we cannot guarantee availability. We operate rurally, without laundry services nearby, so bringing your own is the safest option.

After time in cool cave water, a dry towel makes the change back above ground much more comfortable.

Bring Warm Socks

Socks are easy to forget, but they matter.

Bring long, thick wool or synthetic socks if you can. Warm hiking-style socks work well.

Avoid thin cotton socks. They hold water, lose warmth quickly, and are less comfortable inside caving footwear.

What Gets Provided

You do not need to bring specialist caving gear.

We provide the equipment needed for the cave, including wetsuits, helmets, footwear, and headlamps. Our guides will help you get fitted before the tour.

Because groups are limited to six guests, there is time to get prepared properly before entering the cave.

Where to Buy Forgotten Items

If you forget swimwear, socks, or a towel, the nearest towns to purchase them are Otorohanga or Te Kuiti.

It is best to organise these before arriving, as Waitomo is rural and shopping options are limited nearby.

A Simple Packing List

Before you leave, check you have:

• Swimwear
• Towel
• Long, warm socks
• Any personal medication you may need

Why It Matters

This is not a standard Waitomo tour where you stay on a walkway.

You will move through the cave itself, climbing over rock, swimming short sections, floating on tubes beneath glowworms, and navigating uneven limestone terrain. The right small items help you feel more comfortable before the well-earned finish in cedar hot tubs.

Ready to Prepare Properly?

Bring the basics, we provide the cave gear.

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