Your tour will start at either the Waitangi Wharf (pickup and drop-off point) on cruise ship days or the Paihia I-site on other days. Here your friendly local guide will transport you to the caves in a 12-seater dual air-conditioned minibus, around a 15-minute journey.
Our first destination is the Kawiti Glowworm Caves where a local Maori guide will lead you through underground caverns to see the glow worms and tell you how the caves came to be found.
Your 30-minute guided tour will follow a wooden boardwalk (with handrails) through a 200-meter limestone cave system. Once inside, you will see thousands of glow worms spread across the ceiling surrounded by breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites.
Then, take a short drive to Kawakawa to see the world-famous Hundertwasser Toilets, one of the few public toilets recognised as an international work of art. Designed by expatriate Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, they feature recycled materials from the local community.
You will also visit the Hundertwasser Cultural Centre. Opened in 2020, the centre offers an opportunity to enjoy the best of both Hundertwasser’s work and local Maori Arts & Crafts.
The final destination is the Opua Forest home to Kauri trees which are over 1000 years old. From here we go back to the Wharf via the Waitangi lookout, where there are great photo opportunities particularly of your ship moored in the Bay.
We guarantee getting you back to your tender in time. Mullarkey Tours has been operating for over 10 years and we have never missed the last tender.
