The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a bucket list destination when you visit New Zealand's North Island. I'd wanted to see these magical caves for many years before finally traveling to New Zealand.
There are so many tour operators and varieties of tours to book, which can be difficult to navigate. We booked our tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Cave with Down to Earth Waitomo, and we're so glad that we did.
You might think that Hobbiton is the only place in New Zealand where you can step into another world. While Hobbiton puts you smack in the middle of the Lord of the Rings films, the Waitomo glowworm caves make you feel like you've entered the realm of Avatar.
Much like the bioluminescent lagoon in Jamaica where the water sparkled and glowed with a blue hue, the ceiling of these caves sparkled and glistened up above.
Jump to:
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves: A World Famous Cave System
- Why Should You Take a Tour with Down to Earth Waitomo?
- Inside the Waitomo Glowworm Cave
- Witnessing the Magical Glowworms
- Remember to Bring Your Camera
- Where to Stay Near Waitomo
- One of our Favorite Experiences in NZ
- Getting There and Getting Around
- Blog Posts About New Zealand
- Don't forget travel insurance!
Waitomo Glowworm Caves: A World Famous Cave System
Located on the western side of the North Island in New Zealand, the Waitomo District is famous for its glowworm caves. Even though the Waitomo Glowworm Cave has attracted visitors for over a century, there are over 300 limestone caves in Waitomo.
The cave we visited with Down to Earth Waitomo sits beneath the owner's family farm and they've opened it to the public for tours.
The family farm is located in a small settlement called Pākeho (comes from the Māori word for limestone). The land was passed down from generation to generation, now with its fourth generation of owners.
Down to Earth Waitomo tours explore the Mangarongapu Cave, Lime Cave, and Mangapu Gorge. These are a part of the Mangapu Cave System, one of only two Waitomo cave systems classified for its "international significance" by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (along with the Waitomo Glowworm Cave).
Why Should You Take a Tour with Down to Earth Waitomo?
I mentioned that there are many different tour companies that offer glowworm cave experiences in Waitomo. To be specific, we booked the Off The Beaten Track Glowworm Cave Tour. Here's why we loved our tour with Down to Earth Waitomo.
Small Groups Only
There are no large tour groups or crowds here. Each Down to Earth Waitomo tour operates with eight people or less.
A small group is a more intimate experience, especially when trekking through the caves and underground rivers. When observing something as magical as the glowworm caves in New Zealand, the last thing you want is a large group of people making noises or whispering to one another.
You want to enjoy the spectacular scenery in peace.
Also, with a smaller group, it's easier to get to know the other people in your group. We may have started the tour as strangers, but by the end of the trip, we were all friends.
A Truly Eco-Friendly Tour
You won't find any concrete paths or electric lights illuminating the way. The caves at Pākeho, operated by Down to Earth Waitomo, are untouched and left as nature intended.
These unique Waitomo glowworm cave tours are authentic caving tours for a more physical and adventurous journey. There is also a minimal impact on the glow worms themselves, as the only light shed on them are minimal amounts from our headlamps.
With that said, you won't need to worry about getting your clothes or shoes waterlogged or caked in mud. In fact, you don't need to bring any special equipment or clothing for the excursion.
Once you arrive, they'll provide all clothing and boots, so you won't need to worry about anything. Each article of clothing is perfect for the tour, from the waterproof rubber boots to the fleece top with pockets for your camera.
For the Adventurous Traveler
Our small group of seven was led by our guide down a path, through a countryside dotted with sheep. Before long, we were surrounded by a lush forest as we stepped closer to the cave entrance.
At the entrance of the cave, glacial water dripped down the rock face along the shaggy moss. We were asked if we wanted to take a drink from this pure water. When in New Zealand!
I cupped my hands below the dripping water and put the tiny pool of water in my hands up to my face. It was so cool and refreshing. I only wish I could have had a whole glass of it!
Inside the Waitomo Glowworm Cave
Once we wandered inside the cave, I realized it was time to trek through a gently flowing stream. Even though I had rubber boots on, the water managed to find its way inside my boots.
On occasion, when we had a free moment, I'd pour some water out of my boots to ease the sloshing. My socks were damp and soggy, but it was all part of the adventure.
Like in many caves, we discovered fossilized rocks, stalagmites and stalactites (stalagmites reach up from the floor and stalactites hang from the ceiling). They are very slow growing, only about 1 cm per 100 years! The history within caves is truly fascinating, if you try to imagine how long it took for everything to materialize.
Another part of our adventure was traversing over and under giant rocks, and sometimes through small spaces in the boulders. At times, we were climbing around and I was unsure how I'd make it through the rocks!
Thankfully, our helpful tour guide assisted and guided us through each space. He knew these caves so well and had explored them for decades.
He also snapped a few photos when we were stuck in awkward positions, which were great to chuckle about after the fact. It's all a part of the spelunking adventure.
Witnessing the Magical Glowworms
We managed to see the glowworms on several occasions. How can I possibly describe such a surreal experience?
It was fantastic, amazing, awesome. It's really easy to lose yourself in the experience. Time quickly slipped away as we observed one of nature's most extraordinary sights.
Every time there was an opportunity to see the glowworms, we'd all shut off our headlamps to witness the spectacle. Slowly, as our eyes adjusted to the darkness, more and more glowworms came into view.
Before long, the entire ceiling of the cave was covered in sparking blue light.
We also saw the glowworms hanging down from the ceiling in the light. The science behind glowworms is quite intriguing.
Once an egg hatches on the ceiling, the larva builds up a tube of mucus that can be up to a foot long. Then, it projects many ultra-thin silk strings that hang from the bottom of the tube.
The larva regurgitates mucus on the silks, which combines with water from the surrounding humid atmosphere.
The glowworm illuminates this nest through its bioluminescent tail, which attracts mayflies. The mayflies become stuck in the mucus, and then the glowworms eat the mayflies. It sounds a bit disgusting, but it's fascinating.
Towards the end of our tour, we entered a massive cave with a high ceiling. Our group collectively turned off our headlamps and sat on the rocks.
We stared up to the twinkling blue lights for about ten minutes, although the time went by really fast. It was such a wondrous experience to lay back and simply enjoy this extraordinary experience, especially with the person that I love the most. It was my favorite part of the Waitomo glowworm cave tour.
Remember to Bring Your Camera
Yes, you can bring your camera! It's the only Waitomo glowworm cave tour or excursion that I could find that allowed cameras and photography.
Now, you aren't able to bring in your large DSLR cameras. Only smartphones and pocket sized cameras are permitted (so, GoPro and DJI Osmo Pocket cameras work well).
This is for your own safety: when you're navigating large boulders, there isn't any space to carry a big camera or a bag of any kind.
However, it's extremely difficult to take pictures of the glowworms. Small cameras are perfect for capturing the overall experience.
We took photos of the beautiful forest around the caves, the stunning rock formations, and maneuvering around the boulders. Thankfully, our tour guide took photos of us along the way.
He also took photos of us with the glowworms in the background at the end of the tour. The photos were all available the next day and emailed to us, completely free of charge.
If you love photography and you're seeking a photography focused tour, you can book a private Glowworm Cave Photography Tour. You can bring a DSLR camera and a tripod on this excursion, and it's centered around taking quality pictures of the glow worms.
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Where to Stay Near Waitomo
Justin and I based ourselves in Rotorua and stayed at the Quest Rotorua Apartment Hotel. This was our homebase for day trips in the region.To reach Waitomo from Rotorua, it takes about two hours one way by car. If you don't want to drive very far to reach the caves, you might consider staying in Waitomo.
Aranui Farmstay is an exceptional accommodation that's super close to the Waitomo Caves (only 2km away!). It's a 1-bedroom apartment with a garden and access to a patio in a peaceful setting.
The Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge is up on a hillside, surrounded by a beautiful garden that attracts many birds. It looks like a lovely place to stay.
Also, please feel free to use this handy map to book your hotel:
It shares all of the hotels and accommodations in Waitomo. Enter your travel dates for more accurate details. Click on each property to learn more and book your stay.
One of our Favorite Experiences in NZ
Justin and I traveled throughout both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand for two weeks. While we didn't experience everything in two weeks ( how could you?), this Waitomo glowworm cave tour remained one of our favorite things to do in New Zealand.
When we returned home and everyone asked us, "What was your favorite part of the trip?", taking this tour always immediately came to mind.
We couldn't recommend this tour enough! If you're looking to book a Waitomo glowworm cave excursion, be sure to schedule your trip with Down to Earth Waitomo.
We received a discount on our tour in cooperation with 100% Pure New Zealand. We're always honest in our reviews, and we highly recommend Down to Earth Waitomo (formerly known as Glowing Adventures).
Getting There and Getting Around
It's likely that you'll need to book a flight to New Zealand. To reach New Zealand's North Island, book your flight to Auckland. Find cheap flights to Auckland here.
We loved taking a road trip of New Zealand's North and South Islands. Justin and I spent two weeks driving all over the country. Check out our full guide to renting a car in New Zealand for all the details.
We always book our rental cars with Discover Cars because we find the best prices there. You can compare car rental prices between companies to book the best rates.
Blog Posts About New Zealand
Justin and I spent two weeks road tripping around New Zealand. Here are more of our adventures to help you plan your trip there:
Want more travel tips and inspiration? Follow me on Instagram! I share daily adventures, whether I'm at home in Ontario, Canada, or halfway across the world!
Don't forget travel insurance!
Heading out of the country? Don't forget to get travel insurance. It's best to be covered in case of an emergency, cancellation or accident.
Razi says
Very informative article. To those that love traveling your experience would be a treasure. The Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tour was fun to read and thank you for that.
Lauren says
Razi, thanks so much for stopping by and happy you enjoyed the article!