1 / 3Underworld Adventures
π Charleston, West Coast
Best for adventurous families near Westport. A rainforest train, then a guided walk or raft through the Nile River caves ending under a ceiling of glow worms. The walk suits any child who can manage two hours on rough ground; rafting is ten and up.
βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ Absolutely unforgettable adventure! From start to finish, Underworld Adventures delivered one of the most unique and magical experiences weβve ever had in New Zealand. The moment you step into the ancient Te Ananui/Metro Cave and begin your journey through stunning limestone formations and underground chambers, you know youβre in for something truly special. The glowworms deep inside the cave are breathtaking β like a galaxy of twinkling lights overhead as you float gently through the darkness. οΏΌ The tour is incredibly well run, with friendly, knowledgeable guides who make the experience fun, safe, and educational. The rainforest train ride into the cave adds an extra layer of charm, and finishing with river tubing down the Nile/Waitakere River is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. οΏΌ Whether youβre a nature lover, thrill-seeker, or just looking for something truly different, this is a must-do on the West Coast. Highly recommend β memories that will last a lifetime! π π³πΏ
π Family Action Verdict
Pick the walking cave tour for a mixed-age family: there is no minimum age, just a need to walk two hours on uneven ground and squat through a couple of low sections, which most primary-age kids treat as the best bit. Save the rafting for confident swimmers aged ten and up. Book ahead, wear closed shoes you can get muddy, and allow half a day.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β649 Google reviews
TheAdventureTravelers
ββοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ Absolutely unforgettable adventure! From start to finish, Underworld Adventures delivered one of the most unique and magical experiences weβve ever had in New Zealand. The moment you step into the ancient Te Ananui/Metro Cave and begin your journey through stunning limestone formations and underground chambers, you know youβre in for something truly special. The glowworms deep inside the cave are breathtaking β like a galaxy of twinkling lights overhead as you float gently through the darkness. οΏΌ The tour is incredibly well run, with friendly, knowledgeable guides who make the experience fun, safe, and educational. The rainforest train ride into the cave adds an extra layer of charm, and finishing with river tubing down the Nile/Waitakere River is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. οΏΌ Whether youβre a nature lover, thrill-seeker, or just looking for something truly different, this is a must-do on the West Coast. Highly recommend β memories that will last a lifetime! π π³πΏβ
Leenane Jennie
βWe loved this experience! We were the only two booked onto our tour so it was like a private tour. The train ride at the start is beautiful. The caves are really amazing with lots of formations to see up close. The glow worm cave is really big and is a magical experience. We really enjoyed tubing down the river too. Thank you to Jet for being a great guide. There was a QR code to access lots of photos taken afterwards and you get some printed too. 100% recommend this experience!β
John Buckerfield
βAn amazing time in the cave - we did the walk-through tour to the glow worms. Our guide, Andrea had great knowledge and her enthusiasm was contagious. So well worth doing if you can handle walking in the squat position for part of the way! We walked around four kilometers, seeing stunning sights of stalagtites and stalagmites and then the glow worms in total darkness. So glad to have found this adventure!β
Tom Salway
βWe did a cave walking tour with Ray and had an amazing time! The caves were stunning and the train ride was a fun experience. Ray was an awesome guide, with a great sense of humour and incredibly knowledgeable about the caves and their formation. I won't forget the difference between stalagmites and stalagtites now. Highly recommend!β
Reviews from Google
Overview
Underworld Adventures runs from Charleston, half an hour south of Westport, and every trip starts with a ride on the Nile River rainforest train up a limestone canyon. The glow worm cave tour is a guided walk of around two hours through the Te Ananui cave, past stalactites and chambers, with some ducking and shuffling, ending in total darkness under a galaxy of glow worms. Underworld Rafting adds a float across an underground lake and a river tube outside, for ages ten and over.
