Nestled in the verdant hills of New Zealand’s North Island, two hours south of Auckland, lies one of nature’s most enchanting spectacles: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Here is where you can find a large concentration of glowworms, with some amazing tours and adventures to explore them.
When I descended into these ancient limestone caverns, I entered a world that has been millions of years in the making, where underground rivers carve through rock and thousands of tiny glowworms transform cave ceilings into living constellations.
The Māori named this place “Waitomo” water passing through a hole -and as I drifted silently beneath that luminous canopy of Arachnocampa luminosa, New Zealand’s endemic glowworm, I understood why this hidden wonder has captivated travelers for over a century.
There are three primary caves to visit in this area, each with a unique set of attractions. During my stay, we visited them all, and stayed a night in Waitomo so we would have plenty of time and not feel rushed.
Should you Reserve in Advance?
If you are visiting in high season, I believe the answer is yes. We visited in late September, still considered low season, so we didn’t need to. You must book timed reservations,and every tour requires a guide. You cannot visit these caves independently. On arrival, we visited the ticket office, and reserved a spot to visit each cave- luckily we were able to visit all three in a single afternoon. You can book your tickets directly at: Waitomo.com
If you don’t have a car in New Zealand, consider joining a guided day trip from Auckland. Many tours combine the Hobbiton Movie set tour with Waitomo. In this case, you would only be visiting the main attraction- the Glowworm Cave.
If you’d like to independently explore all the caves in the Waitomo area, here’s what to expect.
This canopy is what to look for when approaching the caves. There are two different parking lots across the street. You can buy your tickets here, there is a great gift shop and a restaurant here as well. This is the location for the most popular Waitomo Glowworm Tour. If you are visiting more than one cave, I recommend visiting this one last.
After purchasing our tickets, you have to drive about 5-10 minutes away for the Aranui and Ruakuri Cave Tour.
Aranui Cave
The Aranui Cave Tour lasts about an hour, although ours felt a little shorter. You’ll meet your tour guide at the small canopy by the parking lot. The walk to the cave entrance is gorgeous! There is also a designated ‘bush walk’ in this area if you would like to do more hiking in this lush area. We had quite a bit of rain, so we didn’t do any additional hiking above/beyond the cave tour.
This particular cave doesn’t have any glowworms, but it is beautiful with many gorgeous formations. Aranui is considered a dry cave. Glowworms have to have a water source to thrive.
We did however find another animal unique to New Zealand- the weta. A large insect, that reminded me of a large spider or grasshopper. These unique insects are found inside Aranui Cave.
Ruakuri Cave
This is the longest of the cave tours (1.5 hr) – AND the ONLY cave in the Southern Hemisphere with a handicap accessible entrance! The Māori once used the cave’s original natural entrance as a burial ground, so today the natural entrance remains sacred and closed to the public. Instead, your guide will lead you down the modern accessible entrance to begin the tour.
Ruakuri Cave was first discovered by local Māori between 400 and 500 years ago. According to Māori legend, about 300 years ago a young warrior was hunting for birds near the cave’s entrance when he was attacked by two wild dogs (kurī). After escaping and reporting the attack to his chief, Tanetinorau, he was sent back to kill the dogs for their precious fur. The name Te Ruakuri, or “The Den of Dogs,” was given to the surrounding area after the wild dogs were discovered living in the entrance of the cave.
The Guide took the time to provide an amazing photo for all the guests on the tour!
There are several spectacular formations in this cave, the the guide gives you plenty of time to look around!
They actually point out glowworms up close so you get a real good look, AND take photos! Photos are not allowed on the Waitomo Glowworm Boat tour, so this is your chance if you want any photographs!
The scientific name for the glowworm is Arachnocampa Luminosa. It’s actually the larval stage of a fungus gnat found only in New Zealand, and what we see glowing on cave ceilings are hungry juveniles employing one of nature’s most ingenious hunting strategies. The larva produces a bioluminescent blue-green light through a chemical reaction in specialized organs at the end of its body, combining a substance called luciferin with oxygen and an enzyme. This eerie glow attracts small flying insects—midges, mayflies, and moths—that become disoriented in the darkness and fly toward what they mistake for an exit or the night sky. The glowworm dangles up to seventy sticky silk threads, like fishing lines, from its position on the cave ceiling. When an insect flies into these snares, the glowworm hauls up its catch and consumes it. It’s a patient predator, spending up to nine months in this larval stage before pupating and eventually emerging as an adult fly that lives only a few days- just long enough to mate and continue the cycle.
Blackwater Rafting Adventures
If you are up for a much more exciting adventure, you can sign up for the Blackwater Rafting, where you will float in innertubes down the river system inside this cave system. The rafting tours start from Ruakuri cave. We didn’t take that adventure, but it is quite popular and sounds like lots of fun. We saw the rafters floating by while inside the cave, and we had to be quiet and ensure there was no light, so they could enjoy the view of the glowworms.
There are two different water adventures. One is a 3 hour tour (Black Labyrinth), and one is a 5 hour tour that includes zip lining (Black Abyss). You can find out more about the rafting adventures here at the Waitomo Cave Website.
Waitomo Glowworm Cave Experience
If you only have time for one tour, this is the one to take. If you decide to visit all the caves, like we did, I recommend visiting this one last. I do feel like the riding the boat in silence looking up at the glowworms was indeed a magical experience.
The tour begins with a standard cave tour, leading you through impressive limestone formations that have developed over thirty million years. Your guide will then take you into the large chamber often referred to as the Cathedral Room, where the acoustics are beautiful! If you are lucky, they will encourage someone in your group to sing (my friend did!). They have hosted musical performances- including choir performances and even opera singers, inside this space, and the natural reverberation is truly spectacular.
From there, the tour descends to the lower levels where you board a small boat at the underground jetty. This is where the experience transforms into something otherworldly. As your guide silently pulls the boat along a wire through the darkness, you drift beneath a galaxy of glowworms overhead. The only sounds are the gentle lapping of water and the occasional drip echoing through the cavern. Thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa larvae create pinpoints of blue-green light above you, their bioluminescent glow reflecting off the dark water below. It’s a moment that requires no narration—just quiet awe. The boat ride lasts only about five minutes, but it’s an experience that stays with you long after you’ve returned to daylight.
They don’t allow any photos from inside the cave, only as the boat is leaving! This one you will have to see for yourself!
Commonly asked Questions
Is the Waitomo Caves Worth It?
I say YES! When you come all the way to a new country like New Zealand, you want to see what makes New Zealand unique. These glowworms are a species that are native to New Zealand- and a special sight that you can find only here.
How Long do you need at Waitomo Caves?
1/2 Day was enough time to experience the basic tour of all three caves. You will need to allow more time if you plan to experience the rafting. There are also several bush walks in the area, so I recommend a full day to fully enjoy the experience!
How to Dress for the Caves?
Where sturdy shoes and wear layers as the caves are cool and damp. It was raining when we visited and the seats on the boat tour were a little wet. You will be walking on gravel down to the Ruakuri cave entrance. All the tours inside the cave, had paved paths.
What does Waitomo mean in Maori?
Waitomo is a Maori word made up of two parts, ‘Wai’ which translates as water and ‘tomo’ which means entrance or hole. Waitomo can be translated as the ‘stream which flows into the hole in the ground‘.
Where to Stay in Waitomo?
We stayed in the Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge. There are several places to stay in the area. I highlight my top picks in this article here.
Where to Eat in Waitomo?
There are only.a few restaurants in the small town of Waitomo- some of which are closed on Tuesday’s we found out! For lunch mid-day, there is a restaurant on site at the Glowworm caves under the canopy, and we thought it was quite good!
If you are staying the night, here are the other options for dinner.
Tomo Bar & Eatery (where we ate)- great bar and a fun atmosphere.
HuHu Cafe (Closed on Monday’s and Tuesdays)
There’s a small general store in Waitomo with some food available, but they close at 6pm.