Waitomo Glowworm Caves & Ruakuri Cave

New Zealand’s wildlife is not all about kiwi birds: the mystical glow worms are one of NZ’s most signature creatures. When it comes to these glowing insects, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is the world’s most well known tour and attraction.

However, anyone who spends enough time outdoors overnight in New Zealand would know that these glow worms can be found all over the country. You’ll find glow worms on walking tracks (eg. Trounson Kauri Park), along overhanging banks in the forest, or you may find them in other caves. The only challenge is that you can only see them when it’s dark. If you are doing the Great Walks, there are glow worms at the back of John Coull Campsite shelter of the Whanganui Journey, glow worms along the tracks near the huts/campsites of Kepler Track, Rakiura Track, Milford Track, etc. There are even glow worms at my neighbor’s farm when I stayed somewhere off Cambridge.

Fun Fact: Glow worms are not worms!

So, is it worth it to go for paid glow worms tours, when you could instead see glow worms close up almost everywhere in New Zealand? Let’s have a look through my experience with Waitomo Glowworm Caves:

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Booking

The caves and glow worm tours can be booked online at the original tour operator, Waitomo Caves, to secure your slots during peak season. You can also walk-in to buy the tickets from the counter (do check the time slots online to plan your journey and save time). I bought the ‘Most Popular Combo’, which includes the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and the enchanting Ruakuri Cave. P.s.: You have to drive to each cave for the separate tours.

You can check out all the caves and tours on their website. They even have Black Water Rafting tours, which involve cave tubing through dark underground rapids and jumping off waterfalls in the glow worm caves.

Ruakuri Cave

After purchasing my tickets at Waitomo Glowworm Caves center, I drove 5 minutes to Ruakuri Cave Tours center to check-in and wait for the scheduled time for the tour.

As you begin the guided tour, stare down into the abyss, before walking down the spiraling walkway into the underground level of Ruakuri Cave.

The first big reveal when you enter the cave’s main section and the lights turn on.

They call this unique stalactite ‘The Sheets’ due to its thin-shaped formation. However, my first thought was a papadum haha. It is so thin that light can pass through it.

Ruakuri Cave Glow Worms Waitomo Glowworm Caves

The first mass appearance of glow worms as we walked through the cave, on the wall right in front of us!

They are most visible in total darkness but even with some lights I could clearly see the glows and their sticky trap snares.

The cave walk is a combination of dark passages and lit walkways. The guide will explain and share interesting knowledge about the cave and the glow worms. You do not need to bring a torch and there are certain parts you cannot flash the lights around (the tour guide will let you know).

Unique layers on the cave’s ceiling.

In Ruakuri Cave, the guide would show you fossils such as scallop shells.

Here is a fossilized oyster, and a part of the tibia (shin bone) of the extinct giant wingless bird: Moa. It is believed that this moa fell into the cave by accident.

Ruakuri Cave stalactites Waitomo Glowworm Caves

The beautiful mass of icicle-shaped stalactites. Don’t sneeze! (Don’t worry, they won’t break off and fall down like in cartoons)

Near the end of the tour, we walked past this special looking hole with water dripping from above.

More glow worms before we end the tour!

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

After the tour at Ruakuri Cave, I drove back to Waitomo Glowworm Caves to start my next tour. As photography is not allowed throughout the whole section of the caves, I do not have any photos from inside the caves.

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour consists of two parts. The first part is a guided walk through the cave’s dry upper level. The group will stop by at the tallest chamber in the cave, called the Cathedral. This is where you could show off your singing skill when the guide asks for volunteers to sing. Listening to volunteers and guides singing here was an alleviating experience as the cave walls provide good acoustics to the sounds.

The second part takes place on the stream passage in the cave’s lower level. The group is loaded onto boats, steered quietly with cables by the guides. This is the highlight of the tour as you float silently in darkness, watching the ‘sky’ full of ‘stars’. Yes, the photos you see on the website are not exaggerated, it is indeed full of glow worms, glowing so brightly, it was an out of the world experience!

Verdict:

Is Waitomo Glowworm Caves worth it? I say yes! While you can easily find glow worms out in the bush, you may not find one that is as populous as you would find in these caves. And, since the caves are always dark, you do not have to wait until dark to see these glow worms. The guided tours provide a safe environment for you to explore the caves, and the friendly local guides (many are even the direct descendants of the Maori chief who first explored these caves) provide interesting facts and knowledge you wouldn’t find on the internet. The prices are just right and I didn’t feel a single cent wasted on these tours. So, book your Waitomo Glowworm Caves experience when you are ready! (P.s.: This is not a sponsored post)