Tour Info

Rates The Waiomio Glowworm Caves, Guided tour


The Waiomio Glowworm Caves are owned and operated by the Kawiti family.

Your guided tour will follow a wooden boardwalk through a 200 metre limestone cave system. Once inside, you will see thousands of glow worms spread across the ceiling surrounded by breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites.
As you enjoy the galaxies of glow worms above, your friendly guide will explain the life cycle of the New Zealand Glow worm (Arachnocampa Luminosa) and the intricate webs used to catch their prey. You’ll even get close enough to see the actual body of the glow worm and its stunning blue/green tail light, before you make the return bushwalk through a natural corridor of karst rock formations and pristine rainforest.


SUMMER -  HOURS OF OPERATION
Open 7 days, 9am to 4pm

(Weather permitting)

Closed Christmas Day


TOUR DETAILS
Guided tours only
Tours depart every 30 minutes
Tour is approx. 45-60 minutes in duration


CAVE DETAILS
The caves are 200 metres in length
Handrails and wooden walkways through the cave and most of the bushwalk track over the hill, returning to the car park.


GLOW WORM DETAILS
3 Main Glowworm displays throughout the cave
New Zealand Glow worm (Arachnocampa Luminosa)
Arachnocampa Luminosa glow worm is a transparent larva of the Fungus Gnat.
It has a 4 stage life cycle of 10 to 11 months from egg to adult fly.
Each glow worm grows from 2mm to 40mm long and has a bright green/blue tail light.
The Arachnocampa Luminosa glow worm is unique to New Zealand and thrives in damp, humid, dark environments like caves, catching small flying insects (mosquitoes and midges) with sticky webs called fishing lines.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sensible flat walking shoes and a light jacket are recommended.
There is no pushchair or wheelchair access.
No photography or video recording inside the cavesGood vehicle access and parking