The glow worm caves in New Zealand are enchanting. I fell in love with them instantly. You wouldn’t think slimy little worms (they’re actually technically maggots) could be so pretty, but their weird little sparkly blue butts twinkle on cave ceilings like the night sky.
Not only are they pretty, but they’re a unique natural wonder. They only exist in NZ and a couple places in Australia, so you’d be crazy not to see them when you’re here!
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Top glow worm caves in New Zealand
Here’s a quick list of all the glow worm caves in New Zealand (at least those that I’ve found and are worth visiting). But you can find more details about each destination below.
Waitomo Caves
Waitomo Black Water Rafting
Waipu Caves
Whatipu Caves
Lake Rotoiti Caves
Nikau Cave and Cafe
Kawiti Caves
Abbey Caves (currently closed)
Te Anau Glow Worm Caves
Underwold Adventures, Charleston
Clifden Caves
North Island glow worm caves in New Zealand
The North Island has the most (and the best) glow worm caves in New Zealand — hands down. From free spots you can explore on your own to adventurous guided tours, there’s no shortage of glow worm experiences to be had. And here’s where to find them.
Waitomo - the best glow worm caves in New Zealand!
Waitomo is known as the “glow worm capital of the world.” It’s not a super hard title to hold, since there are only two countries in the world with glow worms — but this is the place to be. And it’s just a little over 2 hours from Auckland!
There are three main caves in the area and are all commercialized, so you need to join a tour to see them. Each cave offers something a little unique, and you can package tours if you want to visit more than one in a day, which I recommend! There are also lots of day trip tours from Auckland. So you don’t have to get very far off-the-beaten track or even rent a car if you want to reach these glow worm caves in New Zealand.
- The Spellbound Cave takes you through on a small boat.
- The Ruakuri Cave is wheelchair accessible and starts with a walk down a very cool, very long spiral ramp.
- The Aranui Cave involves a nice short bush walk, but doesn’t actually have any glow worms in it. (You can visit the bush walk at night to see glow worms outside, but there are none in the cave!)
Waitomo Black Water Rafting
I’d argue this is one of the coolest and most unique things you can do in New Zealand. It’s technically in the same Waitomo caves I covered above, but it’s a more in-depth and adventurous way to explore them, so deserves its own spotlight.
This experience requires a reasonable level of fitness and a bit of bravery! Some spaces you’ll move through are pretty narrow, and the most efficient way to get past some underground waterfalls is just to jump backwards off them into a floating tube. I did the 3-hour “Labyrinth” version, but there’s also a 5-hour “Black Abyss” tour that involves a bit of abseiling (which I plan to do next time). I honestly can’t recommend these experiences enough!
Waipu
These used to be the best kept secret, but unfortunately, word has gotten out. What used to be a free cave is now a campground with hourly guided tours. So that’s a little devastating to anyone who has been there before, but if you haven’t been, I’m sure you’ll still love it.
It’s also a campground, there’s a nice reserve to walk around, and they have a ton of rock climbing routes. So if you’re travelling to Northland, this could be a nice overnight camping spot between Auckland and Whangarei.
Cave access: $40
Look for BookMe discounts on tours to explore these glow worm caves in New Zealand.
Whatipu
An option that’s in Auckland! The Whatipu caves are on Auckland’s west coast in the Waitakere Ranges — about 45 minutes from the city centre.
The best thing about this location is that you get a two-for-one and can hang out on the beach before or after you explore the caves. (Obviously, the above pic is the beach. There are only so many photos of glow worms I can show you before they all start to look the same.)
People used to throw epic parties here in the 1920s, so you can imagine the main bit is pretty easy to access and not very claustrophobic. But keep looking, and you’ll find small passageways to smaller chambers deeper and deeper into the cave. The further you go, the better the display of glow worms, but you’ll literally need to crawl army-style through some bits. That’s all part of the fun!
Oh yah, and it’s completely free to explore.
Lake Rotoiti
This is another super unique way to check out NZ’s glow worm caves, and this one comes with a side of mineral hot springs.
Paddle across Lake Rotoiti near Rotorua where you’ll find glow worm caves only accessible via the water. The caves are conveniently located on the way to/from Manupirua Bay, where you can hop in a hot pool overlooking the lake.
The caves are hard to find on your own, so the best way to visit is with a tour. Check out Waimarino Tours and the Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools website. Hot tip: You can also sometimes find great discounts on BookMe.
Read more: The Best Kayaking Spots in New Zealand
Nikau Cave & Cafe
This Nikau Cave is a lesser-known glow worm experience and not quite as epic or numerous as you’ll find in Waitomo. But still pretty intrepid! There are no built-up walkways, hand rails etc., just the cave is all its natural beauty. You’ll even have to do some crawling, but they don’t provide wet suits or anything beyond the necessary safety gear, so make sure you come dressed accordingly.
They also super cheap accom on-site (like $30 per person), a cafe, and some nearby bush walks.
Kawiti Caves
If you’re heading super north, the Kawiti Caves are only about half an hour from Paihia. You can explore the caves as part of a tour, with the price ranging from $50-200. They also offer twilight tours if you’re looking for something to do in the evening. Some tours include dinner and a visit to the local marae (a center for social and cultural gatherings in Maori and other Polynesian communities).
Abbey Caves (currently closed)
The Abbey Caves are just 8 minutes from Whangarei’s city center. But they are currently closed after a tragic accident involving a child in 2023. It’s unclear when/if they will be reopening. You can still walk around the reserve, but do not enter the caves at this time.
Other North Island destinations to see glow worms
Not all glow worms live in caves. Really what they need is running water and darkness. So there are some areas of New Zealand where you might catch them sparkling on the leaves of dewey trees and mossy rocks. Some places to check out on the North Island:
- Waterfall Gully, Shakespear Regional Park, Auckland
- Lake Karapiro, between Hamilton and Rotorua
- Mangapohue Natural Bridge, Waitomo
- Kākahi, near Mt. Ruapehu
- Botanic Gardens, Wellington
- Okupata Caves, Tongariro
South Island glow worm caves in New Zealand
While the South Island isn’t home to the most glow worm caves in New Zealand, it does have a couple major stunners! Here’s where you can track them down.
Te Anau — one of the best glow worm caves in New Zealand
This is hands down the best spot to see glow worms in the South Island. It starts and ends with a scenic boat trip across the lake, so that alone makes this pretty cool!
But I also love the little informational video you watch before the experience starts (served with a cup of hot chocolate). It’s brief but explains wtf glow worms even are and helps you know what you’re looking at once you’re in the cave. An absolute must-do activity in Te Anau, which is on the way to Milford Sound!
Book it on Get Your Guide, Real NZ, or hope for a good discount on BookMe.
Charleston Underworld Adventures
This is one of the most adventurous ways to see glow worms in New Zealand. Similar to the Waitomo blackwater rafting activity, the way to see these caves is by zipping up your wetsuit on a tour with Underworld Adventures. When we did it, we hit the jackpot and were the only two people on the tour.
The guide was sooo enthusiastic and knowledgeable about caves, and the trip ended with a huuuuge stretch of twinkling glow worms above our heads as we floated down the underground river on our tubes. This destination is a little more off-the-beaten-track on the South Island’s west coast, just north of Greymouth. If you’re thinking of doing the Tranzalpine train journey between Christchurch and Greymouth, you could tack this Charleston glow worm cave on!
Clifden Caves
These ones are a little more off-the-beaten-track all the way south, an hour from Invercargill. They’re free and pretty extensive, so make sure you come prepared with headlamps and gear you’re comfortable getting wet.
These caves feature some huge chambers, and while it won’t be the most impressive display of glow worms you’ll ever see, it’s a rewarding adventure.
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Other South Island destinations to see glow worms
If you’re not a big fan of caves, you can spot glow worms after dark in these forested areas around the South Island instead:
- Glow Worm Dell, Hokitika
- Lake Brunner, Moana
- Jackson’s Retreat Alpine Park, Arthur’s Pass
- Terrace Walk, Franz Josef
Fantastic post! A must see and do when in NZ!