New Zealand's Glowworm Experiences: A Gentle Guide to the Best Spots
Tucked into caves and forested valleys across New Zealand, glowworms light up the darkness with a soft, star-like glow. These tiny, bioluminescent creatures are a natural wonder unique to this part of the world—and seeing them is often a quiet highlight of a New Zealand journey.
From underground boat rides to forest walks at night, there are several beautiful ways to experience glowworms. Here are four of the most rewarding—each offering something different, depending on where you’re travelling and the style of experience you’re looking for.
🌌 Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Waitomo is the name most people associate with glowworms in New Zealand. Located in the central North Island, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves have been welcoming visitors for more than 130 years.
The experience begins with a guided walk through impressive limestone caverns, leading to a peaceful boat ride under a ceiling of glowworms. Thousands of these tiny creatures create a magical effect—like floating beneath a starry sky. It’s a well-managed, short tour that’s suitable for all ages and easy to include in most North Island itineraries.
While Waitomo is popular and can get busy, the system is very efficient, and the glowworm display is beautiful—particularly for first-time visitors.
✨ Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tour
For those who prefer a smaller group setting, the Spellbound Glowworm Tour offers a quieter and more personal alternative. Just outside Waitomo village, this experience includes visits to two caves: one filled with glowworms, and another with stunning limestone formations.
The glowworm cave features a silent raft ride under a thick canopy of lights—an especially calm and beautiful moment. The second cave allows time to walk, ask questions, and enjoy the details of the underground world. It’s a slower-paced experience and rarely feels crowded, even in peak season.
Spellbound is a great option for anyone who values a more relaxed, low-key visit—ideal for photographers, couples, and those who want to take their time.
🌠 Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Over on the South Island, the Te Anau Glowworm Caves offer a different setting and atmosphere. Accessible only by boat, the tour begins with a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau before arriving at a remote cave system nestled in native forest.
Inside, you’ll explore narrow limestone tunnels shaped by underground rivers. One section includes a quiet boat ride through a glowworm-filled grotto. It’s a mix of gentle walking and peaceful drifting, and the group sizes are small, adding to the sense of calm.
This experience is often combined with a journey to Milford Sound, and the lake cruise alone is worth the trip. If you’re travelling through Fiordland, it’s a lovely way to see glowworms in a very different environment.
🌿 Real Rotorua Nocturnal Glowworm Tour
Not all glowworm experiences in New Zealand take place in caves. The Real Rotorua Nocturnal Glowworm Touroffers something unique—a guided evening bush walk through native forest, where glowworms appear on rocks, embankments, and in damp gullies after dark.
This small-group tour is timed to begin just before sunset. After a short drive into the forest, you'll explore easy walking tracks, listen to native bird calls, and watch as the glowworms gradually reveal themselves in the darkness. Along the way, you’ll also spot eels and freshwater crayfish in the stream, adding to the experience.
The walk is easy and doesn’t require a high level of fitness. It’s a peaceful, family-friendly activity that offers something different to the more traditional cave-based tours. Because it takes place outdoors, it's best suited to those who enjoy gentle walks and being surrounded by nature.
Things to Know Before You Go
Glowworm tours vary by region and style, but they share a few things in common:
Dress warmly – caves and forests can be cool, even in summer
Wear sensible footwear – especially for forest walks or uneven cave floors
No flash photography – it disturbs the glowworms and other wildlife
Silence is part of the experience – glowworms are most visible in quiet, dark environments
Book ahead – some tours, especially small group ones, fill up quickly
Final Thoughts
Glowworm experiences in New Zealand are a gentle reminder of nature’s quiet magic. Whether you’re drifting through limestone caverns, cruising across a lake, or walking through native bush under the stars, each tour offers something special. The glowworms themselves may be small, but the feeling of seeing them—especially for the first time—is one of calm, wonder, and connection with the natural world.
Each of the experiences mentioned—Waitomo, Spellbound, Te Anau, and Real Rotorua’s nocturnal tour—has its own charm. Choosing the right one depends on where you’re travelling, how much time you have, and the kind of pace you enjoy. Whichever you choose, you’ll walk away with a quiet, lasting memory of New Zealand’s hidden glow.
Each of these glowworm experiences can be seamlessly included in your personalised itinerary with New Zealand Private Tours, ensuring you enjoy them at the right pace, in the right place, and with everything taken care of along the way.