Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand

New Zealand's Magical Sightseeing: The Cave of the Glowing Worms

     There is one beautiful and charming destination that you must visit when you plan to explore New Zealand. These are New Zealand's most magical sights. A cave with worms that can glow in the dark.

It is known as Glowworm Caves in Waitomo, New Zealand. Glowworm caves are located 200 km from Auckland or a 2.5 hour car ride.

There are three caves there: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Ruakuri Cave, and Aranui Cave. The most favorite are Waitomo and Ruakuri. Combo ticket prices for these 2 caves are NZD 94 for adults, and NZD 35 for children. This tour is three hours long. (waitomo.com)

History of Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Waitomo Glowworm Caves were first explored in 1887 by Fred Mace from England and a local Maori chief named Tane Tinorau. They use rafts with candles to follow the river flowing underground.

In the cave, they saw a miracle, in the form of glowing spots in the darkness. It wasn't a lamp, but a worm that could glow. Latin name of this worm is Arachnocampa luminosa.

Luminosa because it can glow, and arachnocampa because this worm, like a spider, can pull out snare threads. The special thing is that this worm only lives in this place and is not found anywhere else.

These worms are closely guarded by a group of veterinarians, they have automatic equipment that continuously monitors the air quality in the cave such as carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and humidity.

The temperature in the cave was quite cold. Amazingly, all the tracks have been tidied up making it easier for tourists to walk. The lights in the cave are only lit when tourists come.

These glowworms should not be exposed to much light. This light irritates the worms.

Being in Glowworm Caves you will be invited to go on an adventure through the cave by using a cano or boat. With the river currents are not strong, Glowworm Caves offers the charm of 'living lights' bluish color stuck to the walls and ceiling of the cave.

The glint of light that resembles the stars in the sky on the walls and ceiling of this cave makes you feel like you are in fairy land, fairyland gardens.

This ceiling glows not from lights or electric current, or fireflies but from worms.

The worm is very small in size, while the adult is only as big as a mosquito, however, because there are millions of them, the light looks bright.

The part where this magic worm grows, is left in complete darkness. The guides only have flashlights and tourists just follow the light spots that are installed beside the track. In the darkness of the cave, only then can you see thousands of blue light spots.

The bright blue color is the worm's stomach which is digesting food.

With spider-like threads, glowworms ensnare prey, tiny flying insects that also live in the cave.

This insect thought that this was a star in the sky. Then they fly to the cave ceiling and are trapped by glowworm threads and eaten.