In the caves vicinity are a number of walks, most of them easy and all of them scenically splendid.
Nearby Piripiri Cave is one of the few free caves open to the general public. A five-minute walk goes through native forest past limestone outcrops and then descends a short staircase to the cave entrance where, standing on a specially constructed platform, you can see right into the cave. Take a torch to see the dark interior, which also does photograph well despite the gloom.
In Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, accessed via the Ruakuri Caves car park, there’s a one-hour loop walk that follows the stream to a forested gorge, past naturally sculpted cliffs and under low limestone arches, as well as the Ruakuri Natural Bridge tunnel which is home to a colony of the native pekapeka long-tailed bats.
At night glowworms illuminate the banks in the reserve and there’s a grassed picnic area near the car park.
