STILL GLOWING, STILL GROWING
Waipu Caves Farm Park continues to do exactly what it set out to – growing steadily, drawing visitors from further afield, and giving Northland one more unmissable attraction.
When Starburst Cathedral opened in December 2025, it marked a major milestone for a park that had already spent years quietly building something special. Now, less than a year on, the growth hasn't slowed. Owner Ian Fox reports the park has been expanding by roughly 80% annually, with visitors increasingly treating it as a genuine base for their Northland holiday rather than a quick stop on the way through. "We've had people staying for a couple of weeks," Ian says. "They might go away for a day or two, but then they come back here and use us as a base."
That vision – building a destination, not a stopover – continues to shape everything happening on site. Beyond the two cave tours through the Milky Way Chamber and Starburst Cathedral, the Jurassic Walks and Jurassic Climbs keep visitors busy above ground, with more than 75 routes across three limestone crags catering to everyone from nervous first-timers to serious climbers. The park's dark-skies camping areas remain a drawcard too, offering motorhome and tent sites with minimal connectivity – the kind of place built for stargazing rather than scrolling.
International attention keeps building as well. The park has hosted both overseas and New Zealand productions, adding to its growing reputation that's caught the eye of film crews searching for genuinely untouched Northland scenery.
Looking ahead, Ian and Cindy Fox are eyeing further additions, including adventure caving – a more active experience requiring helmets, harnesses and wetsuits – offering a different way to explore the cave system for those chasing something a little more hands-on.
Underpinning all of it is a genuine commitment to conservation. Tourism revenue continues to fund pest control efforts across the property, helping native forest, streams, and cave ecosystems recover, with threatened species returning in growing numbers – proof that recreation and conservation can genuinely work hand in hand.
“This is a great attraction for Northland, and it hasn’t happened by luck or chance. It’s a lot of hard work, but when you’ve got ideas and a vision, you just keep working at it and eventually you get there,” Ian says.
With cave concerts now a regular fixture throughout the year, there's never been a better time to experience Waipu Caves Farm Park.
CAVE CONCERT SCHEDULE
Starburst Cathedral, 6pm
Saturday 19 December
Saturday 16 January
Saturday 13 February
Saturday 13 March
Saturday 10 April