The Glow-Worm Grottos Lighting Up New Zealand

This spectacular underground light show in New Zealand is one of the best natural attractions in a country known for its outstanding natural attractions. The source of the magical illuminations in the caves of Waitomo, however, come from an unlikely place.

Accessible via a relaxing boat ride, the Waitomo Caves have been 30 million years in the making. They have been an attraction for visitors for almost 130 years, gaining a reputation for cultural and historical significance.

The lack of sunlight inside the grottos make the glow-worm lights appear like a series of stars against the backdrop of a night sky. Known as the Arachnocampa luminosa glow-worms, the tiny creatures radiate an unmistakable luminescent light and are unique to New Zealand. Waitomo comes from the Māori words for water (Wai) and hole (tomo) giving visitors a strong clue as to what lies beneath the green hills of the region.

The underground illuminations of the grottos of Waitomo are a natural wonder of New Zealand

The caves below also feature sinkholes and interconnected underground rivers, which are only reachable with the assistance of an experienced guide. For the more adventurous tourist, there are black-water rafting experiences as well as zip line trips into the dark.

Many of the guides are directly descended from the first Māori chief to discover the caves and bring them to the attention of the rest of the world in 1884. The more narrow caves and passages are so confined they have to be constantly monitored for carbon monoxide levels, which can build up if visitor numbers are too high.

The largest area is known as The Cathedral and has seen live concerts and musical performances due to the excellent acoustics in the cavernous space. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre is an excellent attraction itself, having won architecture awards for its sustainable design.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.