Where are the best glow worm caves in New Zealand?

Where are the best glow worm caves in New Zealand?

Waitomo
The most popular place to see glow worm caves in New Zealand is in Waitomo, a small farming district in the Waikato region of the North Island. Above ground, Waitomo is awash with rolling green hills. Underground, there’s a vast network of limestone caves filled with glow worms.

Where in the cave do the glow worms live?

Glowworms often live on cave ceilings. They glow blue and weave long, sticky webs to catch prey. Inside a glowworm cave, these webs cause the cave ceiling to appear covered in star-like lights.

Which cave is home to a unique breed of glow worms?

Waitomo Glowworm Caves
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves attraction is a cave at Waitomo on the North Island of New Zealand. It is known for its population of Arachnocampa luminosa, a glowworm species found exclusively in New Zealand.

Where can I see glow worms in New Zealand for free?

10 Free Glowworm Caves in New Zealand

  • Waipu Caves. The mission to get to these “off the beaten track caves” makes discovering Waipu Caves all the more rewarding.
  • Clifden Caves.
  • Okupata Caves.
  • Abbey Caves.
  • Hot Water Beach.
  • Ruakuri Bush Walk.
  • Velenski Track.
  • Limestone Creek.

Can you see glow worms during the day?

Can I see the glow worms during the day time? The glow worm tour is a night tour. The glow worms are found in a cave that has a large opening allowing too much light during daylight hours to see the glow of the glow worms.

Are glow worms in America?

Genus Arachnocampa – around five species found only in New Zealand and Australia. The most well-known member of the genus is the New Zealand glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa. Contains a single species, Orfelia fultoni, found only in North America.

Does Glow Worm poop glow?

Glow-worms do indeed have poo. But of course this does NOT glow! They discard their excrement (a tiny black smudge) outside the snare presumably to decrease fungal attack.

Are there glowworm caves in the US?

While the glow worms are rarely found in North America, similar insects are rarely found anywhere in the world. The only other species like the glow worms that inhabit Hazard Cave are found at Waitomo Cave in New Zealand.

How big is the Waitomo Glowworm Cave?

Waitomo Glowworm Cave, New Zealand Located on New Zealand’s North Island, visitors will venture 150 feet underground to witness hundreds of thousands of these shining insects lining the ceilings of the 30 million-year-old limestone caves.

What is special about Waitomo caves?

The underground caves have elaborate stalactites, stalagmites, and incrustations, some of which are named (e.g., Bride’s Jewels, Organ, White Terrace, Blanket Chamber). The main attraction is a boat journey along the underground river that takes the visitor to Glowworm Grotto, lit by countless glowworms.

When can you see glow worms?

The peak time for finding glowing glow-worms is summer evenings in June and July. The adult females live for just two to three weeks. They’re wingless, and use their glow to attract the winged males.

Are the Waitomo caves worth it?

72% of people said the Waitomo Caves are worth visiting. Note, as this is a backpackers group it’s likely the audience is more budget concerned so of course the comments section included the suggestion of visiting Waipu Caves and other free caves could be a nice alternative.

Is Punakaiki cavern worth a visit?

The Punakaiki Cavern is a Karst cave, formed with a combination of water and carbon dioxide, carving out the cave from the Oligocene limestone. Well worth a look around. The cavern also features glow worms and stalactites. The floor of the caves can be slippery.

Where are the Glow Worm Caves in New Zealand?

Ready to explore the glow worm caves in New Zealand deep in the rainforest. Our adventure starts with a short drive to the edge of the forest where we jump on board a custom-made train which takes us deep into the lush rainforest. After the obligatory safety talk and dry West Coast humour, we chug gently off into the greenery.

Why visit the Nile River Glowworm Caves?

Join us on a simply magical journey of discovery in the enormous Nile River GlowWorm Caves amidst a calcitic wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites complete with unbelievable galaxies of GlowWorms.

What is it like to go on a glow worm tour?

The trip itself is a walking/caving/rafting excursion into the Nile River cave system to view the millions of resident glow worms, with both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ options available to suit everybody. The first time a group visited, we were greeted by one of the owners, Geoff, at reception.