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Where Are The Best Places to Find Glowworms in New Zealand

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Step into one of New Zealand’s famous Glowworm caves, and you might think you’ve left earth and entered into some far away dream land...

Written on
September 14, 2022

And while these unique creatures may seem too beautiful to be real, they do exist - and they exist throughout New Zealand. But what exactly are glowworms, where do they get their “glow”, and where are the best places to find them?

What is a Glowworm?

Despite the name, glowworms aren’t actually worms. Rather, they’re a species of beetle. If you were to see one of these insects crawling around outside during the day, you probably wouldn’t think twice about it. This is because the male glowworm looks much like a typical beetle.


But at night-time (or in the dark), something amazing happens to the females - they emit  a greeny-orange light from their bottoms in an attempt to find a mate. This is bioluminescence at it’s best and what gives the worms their “glow”! And while the males don’t emit these same lights, the females aren’t the only ones that glow. The larvae and the eggs can also emit a bioluminescent light in an attempt to scare away predators.

Where is the best place to find glowworms in New Zealand?

Glowworms can be found all throughout New Zealand. From under rocks, to limestone grassland, to gardens, railways, heathlands, and cliff sides - glowworms are everywhere. And so long as you’re out at night, there’s a good chance you will find some.

With that being said, if you don’t want to risk missing them, there are some places in New Zealand that you are guaranteed to have a magical glowworm experience.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

By far the most popular place to see glowworms in New Zealand is the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. These world famous caves take you into a fantasy land as you enter into an underground world of magical glowworms all around. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see this attraction without a tour, and you’ll probably have to book well in advance - but it’s well worth it. This experience of a lifetime takes you on a boat ride through the 30 million year old caves of Waitomo, where you can awe at the sparkle of thousands of glowworms all around you.

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Though they aren’t nearly as old as the Waitomo Caves, the Te Anau Caves are still a great place to see glowworms. At only 12, 000 years old, the Te Anau Caves are some of the youngest caves in all of New Zealand. Like the Waitomo Caves, the tour of the Te Anau takes you on a boat ride through the geological wonder so that you can witness the beauty of the luminous glowworms, as well as the limestone rocks, the whirlpools, and a stunning underground waterfall. Again, you’ll want to book in advance because these tours fill up fast.

Paparoa National Park

If you’re looking to do something a little less typical than a boat ride, you can also do a glowworm tubing adventure at Paparoa National Park. You’ll start this adventure with a short train ride through the West Coast Rainforest, followed by a short walk to the cave entrance. Here you will head out on a mazed tubing adventure full of stalactites and stalagmites, and yes, glowworms!

Summary:

Of course, not everyone wants to take a guided tour to see glowworms. If you’d rather do a self-guided tour at your own pace, there’s lots of places to do that too. The Waipu Caves, the Clifden Caves, the Okupata Caves, and the Abbey Caves are all excellent places to see glowworms on your own accord.

Always keep in mind, however, that the self-exploration of caves can be very dangerous. Not only could you lose your way, but certain caves are subject to flooding. Unless you are experienced, it’s always recommended that you stick to a guided glowworm tour