1 / 3Underworld Adventures
π Charleston, West Coast
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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.
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 β650 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Gabby P
a month ago
βWhat an absolutely incredible experience! We did the Underworld Rafting and Glowworm Tour and honestly, it was such an amazing day. It was also my husbandβs birthday, so it made the experience even more special! From the rainforest train ride, to exploring the huge cave system, seeing the incredible stalactites and stalagmites and then floating through the caves under what looked like a sky full of stars from all the glowworms, it was just amazing! Our lead guide Andrea was fantastic. She was so friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about the caves. She gave us so much information along the way and went into so much detail, which made the whole experience even more interesting. Hunter was also great and so helpful throughout the whole day. Our 12-year-old absolutely LOVED it and thought the whole experience was amazing. It was such a great family adventure and something weβll all remember for a very long time. We all agreed at the end of the day that this was one of the best experiences weβve ever done. The whole team were fantastic and the experience was so well organised from start to finish. If youβre on the West Coast, DO NOT miss this!β
TheAdventureTravelers
9 months ago
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 - 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 - memories that will last a lifetime! π π³πΏβ
David Hill
2 months ago
βThis is completely worth doing. Our family of 5 (three daughters) had an excellent time, under the guidance of Andrea (amazing kiwi woman who will call you, and anyone she sees βloveβ). It is a very well run operation from start to finish. Very professional, great gear, fun mix of transportation (bus, amazing rickety train, walking, tubing, and then reverse it all), great knowledge, and truly amazing cave and glow worms. The hot showers at the end were (1) much needed (cold winter day) and (2) much appreciated. Along with the tasty food and drinks in the cafe. It adds up a bit for a family of five, but it was a very good value and we can highly recommend it. A truly unique experience.β
π Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsGlow worms
178 reviews
Knowledgeable guide
133 reviews
Train ride
110 reviews
Caves
50 reviews
Cave tour
43 reviews
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.


