Taupo to Auckland

Our fantastic vacation in New Zealand was nearing an end and Mary Kay and I had to start making our way back to Auckland. We booked our last night at a vacation rental near Auckland Airport. But, rather than driving straight there from Taupo, we stopped for one more look at Huka Falls then detoured through Waimoto Village to explore Ruakuri Cave and Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

Driving from Taupo to Auckland

During our drive from Taupo to Auckland, we saw beautiful landscapes in every direction. I was getting a bit more comfortable driving and could enjoy the views a little. We stopped along the way to visit Huka Falls one more time before leaving Taupo and ate delicious lunch at Stoked Eatery in Te Kuiti. After lunch we stopped to tour Ruakuri Cave and Waitomo Glowworm Caves before arriving at our vacation rental for our last night in Auckland.

Visiting Huka Falls Again

As we started our drive out of Taupo toward Waimoto Village, we saw signs pointing toward Huka Falls. Mary Kay’s knee was feeling better so we made a sudden detour to the Huka Falls Bridge where she could walk to the falls from the parking lot without having to hike the 5 mile out and back trail. It was well worth the stop for her to see it the first time and I enjoyed seeing it again at a different time of day. With the sun behind us shining on the waterfall, a rainbow appeared.

Touring Ruakuri Cave

Our guided tour through Ruakuri Cave was all on foot and started with a 12 meter (50 foot) descent into the cave via a large spiral ramp. The enrance that housed the ramp was manmade to avoid using the original, natural entrance which is now considered a sacred burial ground. Inside the cave we were permited to take pictures in many areas but not where the big concentrations of glowworms lived.

After our tour of Ruakuri Cave, Mary Kay and I toured the nearby Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

Touring Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Our tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves started us into the cave by foot. Eventually, deep within the cave, we boarded boats on an underground section of the Waitomo River. Our tour guide, standing on the bow of the boat and using overhead ropes to navigate in the dark, guided us through the pitch-black cave with countless glowworms on the ceiling lighting up the night "sky" like stars. It was magical! No photographs were permited in the cave until we reached the end with the tour with the cave "sky" above and the cave exit to the side.

You can view the Wheels Up for New Zealand 2026 trip page to see all my blog posts, photos, and Wanderlog info.