The Waitomo glowworm caves are one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions as it involves a boat ride inside a cave that is lit up by glowworms. The ceiling of this cave is lit up by millions of bioluminescent insects, making it one of the best New Zealand tourist places to explore by all exciting souls.
The Waitomo Glowworm caves is known to be one of the best natural attractions in New Zealand. This cave is known for its glow worms that glow in the dark cave as you enter to check it out. There are more than 1000 glow worms that have been living in this cave for the past 130 years. This cave has a natural history of more than 30 million years where you can explore by both foot and boat. As you enter the cave and explore its interiors, you are sure to be amazed by the interiors. The cave will instantly transport you into a starry wonderland studded with lights in all directions. Visiting this magical site is often a highlight of various New Zealand packages, making it an unforgettable part of your travel experience.
Highlights
• Explore this ancient world that took more than 30 million years to make! Over the years, the caves have become a galaxy of living lights.
• Get to experience the whole game which includes two levels – the upper level includes a dry region with delicate and stunning cave formations.
• Discovering the lower level includes stream passages for the boats to go through, glowworms and the cathedral which is renowned to be the tallest chamber in the cave.
• Wonder at the local tales and legends because almost all the guides astride the boats belong to the Maori tribe which is believed to be the original explorers of the cave.
How To Reach
1. By Car: The Waitomo Glowworm Caves is 24 kilometres away from the heart of Tokyo. Therefore, if you're driving, the Highway 39 route will get you to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in approximately 4 hours.
2. By train: The Waitomo Glowworm Caves is 550 metres away from the Waitomo Township station. If you're taking the train, use the Auckland Central Palmerston line and the overall travel time can vary based on where you are in the city.
Best Time To Visit
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves is open on all days of the year and comes with all types of experiences and activities.
1. Best day of the week: You can visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves at any day of the week as it is open throughout the year. However, we recommend visiting the Waitomo Glowworm Caves during the weekdays as there is less crowding and you can explore comfortably.
2. Best time of the day: Travel to Waitomo Glowworm Caves at any time of the day, preferably between morning to afternoon. At this time, you can explore the museum patiently and explore all that it offers.
Other Essential Information
- Book your passes well in advance for a guaranteed entry into the cave tour.
- To participate in the blackwater rafting, it is advisable to know some basic swimming for safety reasons.
- If you have any pre-existing conditions like heart problems or ankle issues, it is recommended to not take the rafting trip.
- You might have to spend a lot of time exploring uneven terrains in the cave, so be prepared for a physically challenging time.
- There will be a lot of safety protocols during all parts of the trip, so fo follow them for a safe time at the caves.
Visit the Ruakuri cave
The Ruakuri cave tour begins by travelling into the stunning man made spiral entrance. Here you can marvel at the limestone and crystal formations while you listen to the distant sound of waterfalls. Here, you can get up close and personal with the glow worms and click their pictures too. In this cave, do check out the Holdens Cavern , drum passage, Pretties and the ghost Passage. Do remember that backpacks are not permitted in the cave, and moreover, you will need your own transport to get to this place. So plan your travel to this cave accordingly.
Visit the Aranui cave
The Ruakuri cave is located five minutes from the visitor centre and is a magical forest to enter the Aranui cave. There is no river in this cave, but this cave is a home to native New Zealand cave wetas. Once you enter the cave, you can discover more about the cave interior by walking alongside the safe boardwalks into narrow chambers. The massive limestone formations and the stalactites in this cafe are a sight to behold. Also, every corner of the walls are filled with sparkling pale brown colours in this cave system.
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