This Was My Experience At The Waitomo Glowworm Cave!
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek..” What a visionary Joseph Campbell had been to quote something like this. Every second individual who has New Zealand on their bucket list wants to visit the Waitomo Glowworm cave at least once. And why shouldn’t they?
This Glowworm Cave is quite popular for worms or, most specifically, glow worms. So many travelers visit here to witness glow organisms visible on the ceilings of these caves. One might wonder how these are not at all worms but flying larvae. They radiate a phosphorescent glow shining from inside the caves.
So, with a whole bunch of information, I have curated this comprehensive guide. Keep reading it till the end to discover some of the amazing travel experiences I witnessed.
Location & Accessibility
Now that we know how popular this destination is let’s get into the details of its location. The Waitomo caves are situated in the Northern King Country area of New Zealand, which lies about 12 km northwest of Te Kuiti. It was during the late 19th century when these caves were explored. Back then, they were not used for public visits.
Situated on the Waipa River’s tributary, these caves are quite accessible for all tourists. The exact address is 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3943, New Zealand. The unforgettable sightseeing here is an inherited culture for 125 years. It is quite accessible from the Hamilton Airport, lying at a distance of 49 kms only.
The nearest town of Hamilton is only 55 kms away from these caves, and tourists can easily access it. Well, the good news is the caves are open 7 days and are mostly operational during the year. When I visited it during the mid-summer months, there were no commuting difficulties, which eventually made the trip seamless and interesting.
How Did The Waitomo Caves Were Formed?
A blend of several natural phenomena generally forms natural terrains. And the Waitomo Glowworm cave was no exception. It was formed during the Oligocene era, some 30 million years back. Maori Chief Tane Tinorau, along with Fred Mace, dived around the cave and explored it in 1887. They constructed a raft using flax stems and kept floating through the echoic caves. Trust me, they were quite spooky!
As they kept getting deeper, they witnessed an incandescent row of lights, which would be obviously frightening at first. However, it was later discovered that these lights were produced by none other than glowworms, which were also found in fossilized shells. They kept coming back to the caves a lot after that and eventually discovered other entry points, too.
Entry and Exit Points
Visitors started visiting these caves in the late 19th century, which eventually disclosed two levels of entry. First was the lower level, which mostly remains flooded and is accessible by boats. On the other hand, the upper level is quite dry and has unique rock formations like the Catacombs and the Banquet Chamber all around it.
Other Structural Data
Apart from the glowworm cave, the Waitomo region boasts 300 limestone caves lying underground. However, what makes the glowworm caves so special? It’s not just about the illuminated organisms. However, various other factors, such as the cave’s accessibility and the rich splendor of nature, attract visitors to it.
Exploration Of The Waitomo Glowworm Cave: My Personal Experience
If you truly want to see the wonder of this cave, you have to wake up early in the morning. And that’s exactly what I did. Once you walk through the tunnels and tight openings, you will reach a swiftly-moving waterbody. This water is sometimes ankle-deep and, other times, reaches upto the chest. As you carry a tube, it is easy to slide into the cave and check out the glow worms.
Well, the experience was pretty jaw-dropping. Just like stars glow in the sky, these glow worms were emitting lights. It was like a childhood dream come true, where something so luminous can be touched and held. Unfortunately, there are no lights inside the cave to take photographs and keep them as souvenirs. However, I find something very surprising next.
It was a cathedral-type room where many popular artists, like the Vienna Boys Choir, had already performed. Once you pass through the cave, looking at the stalagmites and stalactites, you will reach a slightly crowded boat. Some are of the opinion that the worms use this luminescence to fool their prey.
After absorbing the most extraordinary sights, I was still left some time to discover the Ruakuri and Aranui Caves. But in order to get there, one might have to indulge in three-hour tubing or so. There are a handful of spots near the cave, which is not too far if you choose popular commuting options. Let’s have a look at them.
To-Do Activities Around The Waitomo Glowworm Caves
This was honestly the most interesting part of the entire trip. There are so many places to visit around the cave and a list of fun things to do. Here’s what I did to make the trip more joyous.
Visited Black Water Rafting Company…
This wet experience is something one can never forget. It was the best way to get closer to the glowworms. I started it all by wearing a headlamp and a wetsuit, after which I prepared myself for a cool river rafting trip. Some of them were inside the caves, while others were outside it.
Ruakuri Caves…
Second on my list was Ruakuri Caves, which was a 2-hour expedition. This marvelous system of caves presented some fascinating waterfalls as well as natural formations. If you want some change from the monotonous glowworms, do visit the Ruakari Caves.
A Trip To An Amazing Brewery
All this travel and no refreshment on the way? That’s not possible. I discovered the amazing King Country Brewing Industry, which is located right in the heart of Waitomo. Here, you get to taste small batches of delightful beers. Sample their wares around various bars and cafes and get the right refreshment after a hectic day.
Cultural Significance Of The Place
The Waitomo Glowworm caves have remained a famous tourist spot for a long time now, and their significance cannot be understated. For people belonging to Maori, this place is both historically and culturally important. Moreover, the caves are used for different historical purposes, such as a burial site, a shelter, and a food source.
When I visited this cave, I learned about the many local cultures that prevail here. Visitors have the freedom to opt for guided tours, which allow them to experience the scenic beauty of the natural world. The bespoke landscape with luminous glowworms has an impact on your mind forever. The accumulation of marine organisms and marine sediments like shells and corals contributed to the formation of sedimentary rocks.
A Look Into The Conservational Efforts
The Kaitiaki, or commercial operator of the Glowworm Cave, has taken some considerable steps along with other caves in New Zealand to preserve them. All these natural wonders form an invaluable taonga to Aotearoa, New Zealand. Tiaki is the governing body for New Zealand’s natural forest conservation, which cares both for the place and its people.
Here are some conservation steps taken by them:
Karst and Cave Preservation
Waitomo’s local authorized bodies employ the best practices for cave management. There is a long and rich history of ecological monitoring that supports cave conservation at its height. Management has close associations with the best science, resulting in the karst and cave aspects of the environmental program. Cave microclimate is crucial for cave formations as well as the health of glowworms.
Catchment Restoration
The overall cave ecosystem is connected to stream and catchment ecosystem health. In order to enhance the catchment ecosystem, the Kaitaki helps with the exclusion of stock from potential waterways. Instead, they have made arrangements to plant the riparian margins of wetlands.
Biodiversity
The most important part of conserving a cave or natural terrain is its flora and fauna. The same is the case with the Waitomo Glowworm Cave Reserve. The governing bodies have maintained almost 127 sentinel possum traps along with self-setting traps. Other local-level bodies also manage an extensive range of 260 baits.
Concluding Words
All in all, the Waitomo Glowworm Cave is the best location if you want an escape from your mundane life. The scenic backgrounds, the calm water bodies, and a wide range of biodiversity will surely satisfy your traveling quest. Just when you think New Zealand doesn’t get any better, the Glowworm Cave kicks in and works out!
Well, to sum it up, this was my personal experience of this destination. And it was surely an intriguing one. If you are planning a fun-filled journey with your loved ones, do not forget to keep this one on your bucket list. Indulge in water-rafting activities or opt for some soothing me-time; the choice is yours!
Read Next…
