Abbey Caves
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Info
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Reviews 92%
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Similar 6
A choice of three different caves. The Organ Cave is the largest. The Middle Cave and Ivy Cave are smaller. All are worth a look and each have lots of glowworms.
Bring your torch and be prepared to get wet!
Photos
Maps
37 reviews with the most recent first, showing page 1 of 3.
Robin
Ranking: 9/10
Great short circle walk! You can explore three caves with a lot of glowworms. It is worth to wear good shoes, then you can go deeper inside and climb. The last cave was the best, you can walk through it and get out on the other side. But there is deep water to cross!!!
Richard Fox
Ranking: 9/10
Great to be able to visit the caves without paying for a tour. You do need torches and you will have to wade through water but the atmosphere, rocks and glowworms are worth it.
Conservation Campsite Pass
Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 74 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.
Sophie Kemp
Ranking: 10/10
Great fun! Recommend you do Middle Cave (ankle deep), then Organ Cave (knee deep) and finally Ivy Cave (waist deep). Whole trip took 2.5hours. Saw loads of glow worms and a few eel. If you climb out of the end of Ivy Cave head left to get back onto path.
Larissa
Ranking: 7/10
Short walk to three caves, bring a torch with you.
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Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.
Birthe
Ranking: 9/10
Three caves that you can explore by yourself with a lot of glowworms. Do not be afraid to get wet and try to find the other way out. Bring your torch, but do not shine your light on the glowworms, they are against it.
Anat Yossef
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing three caves, good walking down boulders and a lot of glowworms! And it is free! Great alternative to the big packed caves with tourists.
Avoid Camping Fines!
The only camping map where each location is approved by every regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Johanna
Ranking: 9/10
I have done the free cave and that was really exciting. The first called the Organ Cave was the best.
Floren Hoenschler
Ranking: 9/10
Amazing natural phenomenon. It seems to be dangerous. For free.
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Madeleine Panholzer
Ranking: 9/10
Awesome caves for exploring and viewing glowworms. There are no man made walkways - some climbing is necessary and you go through water. Unfortunately it is a quite popular cave.
Lara Vogt
Ranking: 10/10
It is quite hard to get into the caves because you really have to climb down in to the caves. Shoes and lights are especially recommended. The glowworms are amazing! Just really beautiful and you got to see quite a lot of them.
Congratulations Abbey Caves
Michele Winzig
Ranking: 10/10
I have seen glowworms in there! They are for free and one can walk into three different caves! It is much better to experience it by yourself and not with heaps of people at Waitomo!
Christine Schtenker
Ranking: 8/10
Cool experience, many glowworms to see, nice to explore.
Malin Meier
Ranking: 10/10
We had been warned that we would become wet, however had not expected to walk through hip deep water in the Abbey Caves. It still was an amazing experience and great alternative to the expensive Wiatomo Caves.
Robin
Ranking: 9/10
Great short circle walk! You can explore three caves with a lot of glowworms. It is worth to wear good shoes, then you can go deeper inside and climb. The last cave was the best, you can walk through it and get out on the other side. But there is deep water to cross!!!
Richard Fox
Ranking: 9/10
Great to be able to visit the caves without paying for a tour. You do need torches and you will have to wade through water but the atmosphere, rocks and glowworms are worth it.
Conservation Campsite Pass
Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 74 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.
Sophie Kemp
Ranking: 10/10
Great fun! Recommend you do Middle Cave (ankle deep), then Organ Cave (knee deep) and finally Ivy Cave (waist deep). Whole trip took 2.5hours. Saw loads of glow worms and a few eel. If you climb out of the end of Ivy Cave head left to get back onto path.
Larissa
Ranking: 7/10
Short walk to three caves, bring a torch with you.
Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass
Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.
Birthe
Ranking: 9/10
Three caves that you can explore by yourself with a lot of glowworms. Do not be afraid to get wet and try to find the other way out. Bring your torch, but do not shine your light on the glowworms, they are against it.
Anat Yossef
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing three caves, good walking down boulders and a lot of glowworms! And it is free! Great alternative to the big packed caves with tourists.
Avoid Camping Fines!
The only camping map where each location is approved by every regional council in NZ. So if it shows on the map, you’re allowed to stay.
The Rankers Camping NZ app, is also in association with…
Johanna
Ranking: 9/10
I have done the free cave and that was really exciting. The first called the Organ Cave was the best.
Floren Hoenschler
Ranking: 9/10
Amazing natural phenomenon. It seems to be dangerous. For free.
Camping NZ App
Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.
Madeleine Panholzer
Ranking: 9/10
Awesome caves for exploring and viewing glowworms. There are no man made walkways - some climbing is necessary and you go through water. Unfortunately it is a quite popular cave.
Lara Vogt
Ranking: 10/10
It is quite hard to get into the caves because you really have to climb down in to the caves. Shoes and lights are especially recommended. The glowworms are amazing! Just really beautiful and you got to see quite a lot of them.
Congratulations Abbey Caves
Michele Winzig
Ranking: 10/10
I have seen glowworms in there! They are for free and one can walk into three different caves! It is much better to experience it by yourself and not with heaps of people at Waitomo!
Christine Schtenker
Ranking: 8/10
Cool experience, many glowworms to see, nice to explore.
Malin Meier
Ranking: 10/10
We had been warned that we would become wet, however had not expected to walk through hip deep water in the Abbey Caves. It still was an amazing experience and great alternative to the expensive Wiatomo Caves.
