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RTW Trip Day #97: Seeing Glowworms at the Waitomo Caves
- andrewsco3
- Jan 10
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
3 January 2026
Steps: 4,976
We got up quite early this morning as we had an early start at the Waitomo Caves.
Before heading out, we went in for breakfast at our B&B and were immediately greeted by so many cats!
There were adult cats wandering around the kitchen, and in the next room was a group of kittens that were only a few weeks old.
Breakfast itself was quite basic - bacon and eggs and cereal, but the hosts were lovely. The girls absolutely loved playing with the cats, and we eventually had to drag them away so we could get on the road.
Ruakuri Cave
Today was all about the glowworm caves, as we had booked a two-cave combo tour at Waitomo.
We started with Ruakuri Cave, and the entrance alone was really impressive. You walk down a deep circular ramp that spirals into the earth, and it genuinely felt like descending into a Bond villain’s lair. I'm sure they could make some great movies here!
Inside, the cave was impressive without feeling overwhelming. Despite the darkness, it felt surprisingly airy. A sturdy metal walkway runs through the entire cave and is even wheelchair accessible, which is something I have never seen in a cave before.
Impressive Speleothems
Our guide pointed out lots of examples of stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising up from the floor, along with columns where the two had joined together over time. These are apparently collectively known as speleothems (yes I did google that one)!
There were also incredible formations known as curtains, which are thin sheets of limestone which are formed as the water runs down the wall of a cave, that really do look like huge stone curtains!
Glowworms up Close
We saw glowworms on quite a few sections of the cave, but the great thing about this tour was that there was a section where we walked right past them, close enough to see their spider web–like threads glistening in the light of a torch.
We even saw a bug fly up and get caught in the sticky threads hanging below them.
In some of the larger chambers, the ceilings were dotted with even more glowworms. With no light at all and complete darkness around us, they created a star-like effect above our heads. Very difficult to photograph though unfortunately!
The guide was fantastic, explaining how the formations were created as well as sharing the history of the caves.
Glowworms in the Waitomo Caves
After Ruakuri, we headed to our second tour at the main Waitomo Glowworm Caves – the largest and most famous cave in the area. It's worth noting that you can't take photos or video inside this cave until the very end as you are leaving the cave on the boat.
In general, it was a much busier experience and didn’t feel as intimate, as there were several tour groups moving through the cave at the same time.
The biggest difference with this cave was the short boat ride at the end, where we floated silently through the cave with thousands of glowworms glowing above us. It was pretty magical and easily the highlight of the tour.
One funny moment came when the guide asked if anyone had had a recent birthday. Jessica raised her hand, and the guide then asked the group to sing Happy Birthday to her, to demonstrate the cave’s acoustics. Jess was a little embarrassed to say the least!
Comparing Waitomo Cave and Ruakuri Cave
We definitely felt that doing the combo was worthwhile as the two caves offer very different experiences.
If you are more interested in learning about caves and rock formations, Ruakuri Cave is the better option. The guide was far more informative, and with only our group and one other in the cave at the same time, it felt much more intimate.
You will see glowworms here, and being able to view them up close was special. However, if you are hoping for the full night sky of stars effect, this is not where you will find it.
If glowworms are your main focus, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves are truly unforgettable. The cave itself was not as impressive, and the guide felt less knowledgeable, more like they were reading from a script. That said, the boat ride at the end completely makes up for it.
Floating through the cave in complete darkness while looking up at the most incredible display of glowworms on the ceiling is something we will never forget.
The two caves complemented each other really well, and I would recommend doing Ruakuri Cave first, which was the order our tour followed.
We would have loved to try black water rafting while we were here, which also takes place in Ruakuri Cave, but unfortunately the girls were not old enough. It is definitely something we'd like to do if we return one day.
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