Guide to New Zealand Glowworm Caves Where are the Glowworm Caves in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s Glowworm Cave is definitely one of the most impressive natural landscapes on this blue planet. You can watch the great picture of the starry sky in the cave, which will become an unforgettable travel moment for you. Below I’ll share with you a super-detailed play guide.

New Zealand has an attraction that is one of the seven wonders of the world - the Glowworm Caves. It has attracted millions of tourists to take a look at the Glowworm Caves over the past century.

Walking into the limestone cave of the Glowworm Cave, along the beautiful and magnificent stalactite passage, taking a flat-bottomed boat, and sliding under thousands of fireflies, the faint light spots are densely covered above the head, as if you are in a starry sky. earth.

There will be small boats in the scenic spot to take tourists in to watch. The exit is connected to the river and extends into the forest. You can see a little bit of starlight when watching fireflies inside the cave, and there is a quiet forest outside the cave. You can feel the magical charm of nature throughout the attraction. Not to mention taking pictures, any picture can produce a blockbuster effect.

Tips about New Zealand’s “fireflies”

New Zealand’s fireflies and our country’s fireflies are two completely different creatures. New Zealand's "fireflies" are actually a kind of glowing worm. They are the larvae of a two-winged insect. Each firefly can spit out up to 70 wet and sticky transparent silk threads. The longest one is even nearly 20 centimeters. The low light attracts and captures other insects for food and survival. Fireflies spin glowing silk when they are young. These crystal beads are translucent filaments secreted by firefly larvae with water drop-like mucus attached.

What glowworm caves are there in New Zealand?

North Island:

1. Waimarino-Tauranga

2. Kawiti Caves - Kawakawa

3. Waitomo Cave

4. Ruaku Ruakuri Cave

South Island:

1. TerraceWalk - Franz Josef Gracier (Franz Josef Gracier) is free

2. MinnehahaWalk - Fox Glacier (FoxGracier) Free

3. GlowWormDell - Hokitika Free

4. Charleston GlowWormCave

5. Dragons Cave - Greymouth

6. Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Although there are many glowworm caves in New Zealand, among them the best viewing experience and The most spectacular glowworms are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in the North Island and the Te Anau Glowworm Caves in the South Island.

Guide to visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves

The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is the earliest glowworm cave discovered in New Zealand. For more than 100 years, the Waitomo Glowworm Cave has been famous all over the world. , becoming an important part of New Zealand's cultural and natural history. The world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves have a strong appeal to local and overseas tourists alike, and are always at the top of New Zealand holiday wish lists. The legend of Waitomo begins more than 30 million years ago, when limestone was formed at the bottom of the ocean. Today, these limestone formations are one of New Zealand's most amazing natural wonders and a must-visit destination.

Take a punting boat and quietly enter the Cathedral Cave, which is famous for its echo. Under the leadership of a local tour guide, you can not only understand the formation of the cave but also understand the Maori culture. The whole trip takes about 45 minutes.

Opening hours

Waitomo Glowworm Caves opening hours:

Summer (November 1st - March 31st): 08:30-17: 30, latest departure time: 17:30

Winter (April-October): 09:00-17:00 (one trip every half hour)

Travel duration: About 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Aranui Cave opening hours:

Open 364 days a year, closed on Christmas Day (December 25)

9:30 am every day, Tours depart at 10:00, 11:00 and 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00 in the afternoon

Duration: about 60 minutes.

Ruakuli Cave opening hours:

Open 364 days a year, closed on Christmas Day (December 25)

9:00 am every day , 10:00, 11:00 and 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 pm

Duration: about 1.5-2 hours.

Traffic information

1. Drive to Waitomo Glowworm Caves

1) Departing from Auckland: Via SH1 and State Highway 39, the distance is 197 kilometers and takes about 2 hours 20 minutes

2) Departing from Rotorua:

Take SH5 and Arapuni St, the distance is 141 kilometers, it takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes

Take SH5, the distance 149 kilometers, takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes

Take StHwy30, distance is 168 kilometers, takes about 2 hours

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Te Anau Glowworms The cave is located on the west shore of Lake Te Anau. It provides tourists with an underground adventure destination suitable for all ages. You will take a boat across Lake Te Anau, and the tour guide will lead a small group to walk around and explain the conditions of the cave. The entrance to the cave is narrow and dark inside, and you can hear the crisp tinkling of the creek beside the stone steps. When you reach an underground river deeper in the limestone road, the tour guide will tell you not to talk, not to use flashlights, and not to take pictures. The tour guide pulled the rope with his hand to push the boat forward. The only quiet sound was the gentle sound of water beside the boat and the echo of the waterfall in the distance. Then you will find that you are under the "starry sky", so close that you can reach out and touch it. Take a closer look at the green glowworm stars, flickering in and out, like the reflection of thousands of pearls, which is so beautiful.

Pole boat tour of the underground landscape of Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand

Opening hours

Opening hours: 14:00-19:00 year-round operation;

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Play time: The whole journey is about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Traffic information

1. Bus

Departs from Queenstown: from October to April of the following year, departs at 06:55 and returns at 15:30. The bus starts at RealJourneysVisitorCentre, SteamerWharf, 88BeachStreet, Queentown, and then picks you up in front of many hotels in Queenstown; on the return trip, please confirm the return bus at RealJourneysVisitorCentre, 85LakefrontDrive, TeAnau.

2. Self-driving

Distance from Queenstown, 173km, drive time 2h10

Distance from Milford Sound, 118km, drive time 1h40

Distance from Invercargill, 160km, drive time 1h57

Distance from Dunedin, 290km, drive time 3h30

You can choose which glowworm cave to visit according to your own journey plan, the editor thinks Both glowworm caves are equally beautiful.

Attraction name: Waitomo Glowworm Cave waitomocave

Attraction address: waitomocaves.NewZealand

Transportation method: When traveling to New Zealand, you can try renting a car and traveling by car. , the time arrangement is more flexible~ Especially when going to some remote niche attractions, renting a car and traveling by car will be more convenient and free! The platform has a powerful price comparison function and 24-hour Chinese customer service online service, so you don’t have to worry about language issues and The time difference is very convenient.

Self-driving car rental guide:

Car rental platform: The car rental platform has a powerful price comparison function, is cheap and convenient, and is a good choice. Select the vehicle in advance and pick it up at the designated location

Prepare materials: original Chinese driver's license, certified international translation of the driver's license, original Chinese passport, credit card