Ruakuri, or 'den of dogs' as it literally translates into the English language, was first discovered by local Maori between 400 and 500 years ago. It takes its name from the wild dogs that made their home in the cave entrance.

Newly reopened after an interval of 18 years, Ruakuri cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo's most compelling subterranean experiences. In any one sightseeing tour, your guide will bring you up close to glowworms, elaborate cave formations, underground rivers, myths, legends and sacred Maori sites.

Your journey begins at The Long Black Cafe where your guide will meet you. From there you will be transported to Ruakuri Cave, where you will enter and begin a spiral descent from ground level via an incredible drum entrance and walkway. You then continue on a 1.6 kilometre guided tour underground.

Ruakuri is New Zealand's longest guided underground walking tour and an experience that must be seen to be believed. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature.

Ruakuri cave features amazing cave formations and underground secrets. You can enjoy a guided tour on foot, or take part in the more action-packed black water rafting adventures that navigate Ruakuri's underground river.

The Ruakuri guided tour offers a comprehensive cave experience due to its size and diversity. Winding passageways, vast echoing caverns, deep crevices and the distant thunder of subterranean waterfalls bring a different energy and character to Ruakuri. Be led along narrow corridors and across low-lit walkways suspended high above the river, sometimes glimpsing the black water rafters on the Huhunui River below.

Tours of Ruakuri take two hours and offer Waitomo's longest guided walking tour along 1.6km of cave passages where visitors marvel at the interesting formations in this living work of nature.