Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Tourist attraction · Waitomo ·
Thousands of glowworms create a starry cosmos on cave ceilings
Thousands of glowworms create a starry cosmos on cave ceilings
"Visitors glide by boat through a network of dim limestone chambers lit by thousands of native glowworms, creating a magical underground experience. The wider area also supports adventurous coastal activities—such as snorkeling, surfing, and guided shipwreck exploration with archaeologists—so travelers can combine the subterranean spectacle with nearby marine excursions." - Jimmy Carroll
"Exploring the Waitomo Glowworm Caves reveals a luminous underground world that is uniquely atmospheric and popular with solo travelers." - Elizabeth Preske Elizabeth Preske Elizabeth Preske is an associate editor at TripSavvy and a former associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure. She writes and edits content about destinations around the world, covering everything from travel-related news and tips to stories about quirky destinations. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"In 1887, English surveyor Fred Mace and local Maori Chief Tane Tinorau decided to explore the Caves of Waitomo. They entered the cave system on a tiny raft where a stream descends into the underground, and with their candles, they carefully navigated the stream through the caves. In the darkness, they noticed starlike lights scattered across the formations above their heads. Thousands of glowworms were hanging peacefully above their heads, forming a magnificent bioluminescent cosmos. The glowworm is a catch-all name for the bioluminescent larvae of various species. The larvae of the beetle fireflies (Lampyridae), beetle larvae (Phengodidae), and of Arachnocampa, a type of fungus gnat all bioluminescence. It is these fungus gnats that can be found in massive numbers in Waitomo caves. The fungus gnat larvae cling to rock walls and hunt with long strings of sticky mucus. When seen in large groups they are truly astounding. Elated with joy, the two men would return many times to explore further. On an independent trip, Tinorau found a land entrance, which is the same entrance that is used today by tourists from around the world. Tourists started visiting in 1889 when Tinorau and his wife began leading tours. Today, many cave guides are descendants of Tinorau and his wife, and the fungus gnats, with their long strings of sticky mucus, still glow beautifully." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"I thought the Waitomo glowworm cave was one of the coolest places I visited in New Zealand — breathtaking and unlike anything else — and you can see the glowworms by walking, abseiling, or floating down an underground river; the standard 45-minute rafting trip starts at 55 NZD, with extended abseiling options (about five hours) from 195 NZD." - Matthew Kepnes
"Floating through the Waitomo glow worm cave felt like staring at the stars—except the lights are bioluminescent gnats—and the experience (walks, boat tours, or abseiling options) is touristy but still amazing. I found the three-hour trip long enough, though the five-hour abseil version is for adventurers; prices start around 79 NZD for a boat tour, ~113 NZD to just walk around the caves, and ~195 NZD for extended tours with abseiling, and this remains one of my most lasting memories from New Zealand." - Matthew Kepnes
