What to Wear Underground

Closed shoes with grip, and a warm layer you can keep on for an hour. That is the whole answer for the three walking caves, and it does not change with the season.

Why the season does not matter

The caves sit at a steady cool temperature year-round, insulated by the limestone above them. A hot Waikato afternoon in February and a wet morning in July produce the same conditions underground. People who dress for the weather they walked in from are the ones who are uncomfortable.

Shoes matter more than the jacket

The floors are damp and in places worn smooth. Trainers or walking shoes are right; sandals, flip-flops and smooth-soled boots are not. There is nothing to hire and no dress code — this is a practical recommendation, not a rule you will be stopped at the door for.

Ruakuri involves the most walking of the three at 1.5 hours, and its entry spiral means no steps, which is worth knowing if stairs are the problem rather than distance.

Black water rafting is a different list

Bring swimwear and a towel. The wetsuit, boots and helmet with lamp are provided and you change on site. Do not wear anything you mind getting wet, and leave watches and loose jewellery with your bag — you are going into moving water in the dark.

Cold-sensitive people should know the water is cold all year. A wetsuit manages that; it does not remove it.

Cameras

You can photograph in the dry sections. The Glowworm Grotto boat ride is the exception — no photography, and it is enforced, because flash and screens disturb the larvae and ruin the dark adaptation for everyone else in the boat. If photographing glowworms is important to you, Ruakuri allows more scope and there is a dedicated Ruakuri photography tour.

Checked September 2026.

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