⛑️ Black Water Rafting in Waitomo - New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year - Backpacking Guide New Zealand

Day 27: Today we are doing the Black Labyrinth tour with The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company in the Waitomo Caves! Join us underground!
Yesterday - Day 26 - • 🗺️ Ruakuri Cave in Wai...
Tomorrow - Day 28 - • ✨🐛 Waitomo Glowworm Ca...
About this video:
New Zealand’s Biggest Gap Year where we are doing 365 Activities: 365 Days has brought us to Waitomo! We join the Black Labyrinth Tour with The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company to explore the Waitomo Caves and see some glowworms.
After suiting up in wetsuits, boots and a helmet, we get ourselves an inflatable tube and head underground to play around in the Waitomo Caves’ epic waterfalls and rapids. That’s why they call it Black Water Rafting! We follow our guide through a stunning cave system, seeing glowworms and beautiful rock formations. We’re jumping off waterfalls, seeing eels, scrambling over ancient rock formations - it’s a real adventure.
Black Water Rafting in the Waitomo Caves is an absolute must-do in New Zealand and we’ll be checking out the other Black Water Rafting Tours in the next few days so don’t miss it!
#Waitomo #BackpackerGuideNZ #NZMustDo #TravelNZ #TravelNewZealand #Travel #HamiltonWaikato #NewZealand
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New Zealand Biggest Gap Year
365 Days: 365 Activities
This year, Robin and Laura from BackpackerGuide.NZ are doing 365 activities in 365 days! We call it New Zealand’s Biggest Gap Year! We’re showing you as many of New Zealand’s activities and things to do as possible on this epic backpacking trip around New Zealand. Make sure to subscribe!
Read more about Black Water Rafting in Waitomo on New Zealand’s biggest guide for backpackers: www.backpackerg...

[@NZPocketGuide]

So what do you think of the Black Labyrinth tour? What else is on your New Zealand bucket list? Let us know!

[@barbaraweht9210]

The Black Labyrinth tour was an amazing one of a kind experience! I loved every minute. Even the chocolate covered marshmallow fish we ate down in the caves was a nice touch :)... Also, the evening before, we arrived at the Glow Worm Tour late and we were lucky to have the nicest guide stay on and gave our group a private tour... and I must say it was one of the most beautiful breathtaking experiences of my life... it was the glow worms that drew me to New Zealand to begin with!! I would have loved to have visited the South Island, maybe in the near future. Your country nature's paradise and people are amazing!!!!

[@ottant]

I did it 23 years years ago, was an amazing experience and watching your video after a long time is like living again those sensations. Freezing water but it was worth it, big time!

[@NZPocketGuide]

@@ottant Awesome! Who did you do it with?

[@ottant]

@@NZPocketGuide OMG it was a long time ago, I think the hostel Juno Hall organized or at least they facilitated to arrange the tour. Fantastic memories of your beautiful country!!

[@NZPocketGuide]

@@ottant Nice one! It is such a good tour indeed :)

[@viiperbiite]

I’ve never done anything like this and I’m terrified but it does look cool

[@NZPocketGuide]

Absolutely, diving into Black Water Rafting is a thrilling leap outside the comfort zone! With a good guide, you’ll be in safe hands and might just find it exhilarating. It’s all about the adventure and making unforgettable memories. For more tips or to share your experience, check out our community on patreon.com/nzpocketguide. Happy rafting

[@barbaraweht9210]

I did this last month and it was awesome!! Highly recommend it. The glow worms (magots really) are epic!!

[@NZPocketGuide]

Hahaha LOVE the fact that you call them maggots! What a stunning tour, thanks for sharing your experience Barbara! What else did you do in Waitomo?

[@visusdvc]

Do you need to know how to swim in order to do this? What if you fall off while jumping backward? Also, if you wanted could you climb down instead of jumping off the waterfalls? Sorry, both of us can't swim and we're trying to see how risky this is given that :)

[@NZPocketGuide]

Hi there! It's awesome that you're considering the Black Water Rafting experience. While you don't need to be a strong swimmer, it's important to be comfortable in the water for this activity. You'll be navigating underground rivers, and there are moments where you'll need to jump backward into the water. If you can't swim, it might feel a bit risky and could impact your enjoyment. If you're not confident in the water, there are other amazing cave experiences in Waitomo that don't require swimming, like the walking tours or boat rides to see the glowworms. For more personalized advice and to help you choose the best activities for your trip, feel free to join us on patreon.com/nzpocketguide. We host weekly group calls and have a secret Facebook group where we can chat more about your plans. Cheers!

[@bretlenhart8280]

Did this in 2014. Amazing.

[@NZPocketGuide]

So cool you got to experience Black Water Rafting! It's definitely one of those unforgettable adventures. If you're thinking about more thrilling experiences or revisiting NZ, our Patreon at www.patreon.com/nzpocketguide has loads of tips and personalized advice in our weekly group calls and secret Facebook group. Maybe it's time for another epic adventure!

[@kiwilauren]

I've never done the Black Labyrinth but I did the Black Abyss in 2010, and I might opt to do the Labyrinth next time for something different. I love the clip at the end - nice save, Robin!

[@NZPocketGuide]

It is a real adventure, you will love it! It is one of our most memorable day for sure!

[@taiiv7947]

I'll have to check this out, good save on the sheep also Robin.

[@NZPocketGuide]

Haha that was a goat I think, crazy climber, not so good when left arriving on top though... Oh man, it is crazy to watch back a few month old episodes, I feel our videos have changed so much since then!

[@andg3886]

Nice video, was there back in 2003 and this brought back some good memories.

[@NZPocketGuide]

cool! What tour did you do in 2003?

[@shidagul]

I did this April 2023 it was amazing

[@NZPocketGuide]

that's awesome! Did you get to see some glowworms?!

[@hoodz246]

I'm planning to go next week but I just wanted to have a rough idea on what I'm signing myself up with. The video really helped with that. Ps: i love the end of the video about the baby sheep

[@NZPocketGuide]

Thanks for the kind words ;) You will have so much fun next week!!!!!

[@tansrb]

hello! i'm going next month and was wondering what do we wear underneath the given wetsuits?

[@NZPocketGuide]

You need to wear your bathing suit :) Have fun! Tell us how you liked it!

[@eavening4149]

You went water spelunking...when it was raining? So dangerous; in my area, the caves flood during the rain.

[@NZPocketGuide]

Very true, we only followed the guidance of our experienced guides that were monitoring water levels carefully :)

[@蕭啟斌]

hi I want to make sure if a gopro is allowed to use? today I am refused to go to the cave with my gopro 8 , even i can fix it on my helmet?

[@NZPocketGuide]

As far as we know, it is forbidden to take cameras during a black water rafting tour :(

[@angieli2822]

What happens if you jump into the water backwards and you fall off??? Sorry my friend was just wondering because we are planning to go next week and we're pretty young (12 and 13)

[@NZPocketGuide]

It is really not deep and you are wearing helmets, you'll be fine ;)

[@raffs9934]

It’s like, 13+

[@fritzjames2]

How cold was the water? Were you uncomfortable at all during the tour?

[@NZPocketGuide]

Not at all :) Although the water is rather cold, the wet-suits provided are super thick and kept us warm and toasty all the way ;)

[@raffs9934]

At the start of the video you put “waitomo, Waikato” you should have put “waikato, king country”

[@NZPocketGuide]

Good call!

[@MrHada007]

Can you take a GoPro with you?

[@NZPocketGuide]

Not that we are aware of. We had to get a special media authorization to do so.

[@amyliawikasa4816]

hi guys, which one is more worth doing the black Labyrinth or the black Abbys? I am planning to do the water rafting and have seen both videos! the black abbys looks really cool and much more fun however the part when you were climbing through waterfall is definitely something I will be struggling to do.

[@NZPocketGuide]

Hey Amylia! Black Abyss is the more adventurous one yet the guides are really helpful and tell you what to do, for instance at the waterfall they showed us how to climb it guiding us with each step :) We have a full comparison of the trips here -> www.backpackerguide.nz/what-is-the-best-black-water-rafting-tour-in-new-zealand/

[@deepakgoyal3795]

@@NZPocketGuide you've mentioned cameras aren't allowed. How was this video shot? Does the Blackwater Rafting Company provide video shooting, editing too alongwith photos?

[@NZPocketGuide]

@@deepakgoyal3795 we had to make a special request and get special training in order to bring our cameras along on the tour. They do, however, take photos with a waterproof camera for people to buy photos at the end of the tour :)

[@stabun101]

Did you see a lot of glowworms in comparison to the glowworm caves?

[@NZPocketGuide]

Hey there :) You will see more glowworm during the Waitomo cave tour (check our video on that too -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3yniap-aJ2Wl6c) but when black water rafting it is just more epic of an adventure :) Are you planning to do this tour?

[@chahem]

choose 1 between this and river surfing in queenstown

[@NZPocketGuide]

Black water rafting is a bit more exceptional I think but this is only one girl's opinion :)

[@ewamelon1344]

How deep was the water? Could you simply stand in there?

[@NZPocketGuide]

It is not that deep, you can stand in most places, probably only one or 2 spots where you can't touch the floor. Plus, keep in mind that we did this tour right after torrential rainfalls so the water level were quite high. It's a very safe tour. Are you looking for your next adventure?

[@ewamelon1344]

Yes, I'm going to NZ soon and I was reading about the Waitomo Adventure Tours. Did you have to swim in there or it was just rafting/floating on the tyre?

[@NZPocketGuide]

Nice one! Nah there is no crazy swimming to do, it is mostly floating/walking all the way.

[@razashah2087]

🤪😁

[@NZPocketGuide]

What do you think, Raza? Are you going to try black water rafting?