Waitomo Glowworm caves - Waitomo, New Zealand
What is it: Beneath the rolling farmlands in the central part of New Zealand’s North Island are miles of caves that have become a renowned attraction for spelunkers, rafters and visitors seeking to experience the caves and the famous glowworms found in them. This set of limestone caves have been in the making for over 30 million years according to scientists.
Glowworms are clusters of worm larvae that attach themselves to the roofs of caves and produce a light or glow. They twinkle in the darkness and luminate to attract prey such as moths, grubs and slugs who then become caught in their sticky threads. Only about a half inch in size, the adult gnats wriggle out of their cocoons after 7 to 10 months of life, fly off for a few feet, mate and die shortly thereafter.
Several cave operators provide tours of the caves to the busloads of tourists that visit the area or offer private excursions. The Spellbound Cave Tour Company offers an interesting and professional 3-hour excursion that includes several different experiences. After arriving at the visitors’ center, guests are assigned to an experienced guide who explains the tour and safety rules. You then put on a safety helmet, grab a flashlight, and proceed into the cave on a dry walkway. The tour begins in the upper chambers which are full of limestone formations extending downward from the ceiling. Then the tour proceeds to a lower section about 150 feet underground where guests are loaded onto small rafts and towed along an overhead chain in darkness to view thousands of the glow worms hanging from the ceiling. The raft portion of the trip may be difficult for people with mobility issues or concerns about brief periods of pitch dark.
Once your eyes adjust to the limited light, the glowworms put on a spectacular display. From a distance their foot-long threads look like white or bluish necklaces, and underneath they are like a star filled sky. After experiencing the beauty and mystery of these creatures, guests leave the rafts and enter a large open chamber of the cave known as the cathedral. This chamber even includes a platform which provides local performers with great acoustics.
Interesting Facts: These limestone caves have been in the making for over 30 million years according to scientists. It is generally believed, however, that the Waitomo caves and their unusual inhabitants became known to the native Maori peoples in the 1800s and were first opened to the public as an attraction in the 1880s. Taken over by the National government in 1905, custody of the caves and the tourist operations there were returned to descendants of the Maori in 1989.The caves now attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.
When to Go: Although the caves are open all year long, it can be quite cold there during New Zealand's winter which runs roughly from May to August. During the summertime, the temperature is warmer and a bit humid although some people still prefer to bring a covering with them.
How to Get Here: The Waitomo caves are located about 2 hours south of Auckland by car and about 2 hours west of the Rotorua area. A day trip to the caves is good to combine with some of the attractions to the volcanic region.
Where to Stay: Waitomo Village is a common point of entry for visiting the caves and it has several local restaurants and smaller lodging facilities. A good place to stop for meal or to stay overnight if that fits your itinerary is the Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge, a family-owned small property that offers clean and efficient services with a friendliness not always found in tourist locations.
Cost: Spellbound Tours offers a popular three-hour group tour to two caves for approximately $50 USD per adult and $17 per child for a maximum of 12 people. Two-hour tours are $35 USD for adults and $13 for children. Other companies offer comparable tours for visits to one to three caves.