DestinationsOceania

Amazing Waitomo Glowworm Caves – New Zealand

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A strange and beautiful attraction can be found on New Zealand’s North Island. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are an attraction in the Waitomo Caves system that is a sight to behold. This cave, which looks like it came straight out of a picture book, is home to a glowworm species known as Arachnocampa Luminosa, which can only be found in New Zealand.

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The glowworms cast beautiful lights on the cave walls and roof, and it is safe to say that they have created one of the most bizarre attractions on the planet. Glowworms are about the size of a matchstick, and their tails emit a bioluminescent light. When a large number of them are gathered, the light they produce is absolutely stunning, and it can be seen all over these caves. Let’s learn some more fascinating facts about them!

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Luminous Caves

Interestingly, glowworms are not technically worms at all. They are a gnat species, and they are still larvae when they are glowing in these caves. In this state, they resemble maggots rather than worms. When they hatch, they look a lot like mosquitos. They produce their signature glow to attract other insects. You’ve probably guessed that their goal is to capture and eat these insects. They can capture them by using the sticky lines that hang from the cave ceilings.

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The Waitomo caves, where these glowworms can be found in large numbers, formed more than 30 million years ago. They are made of limestone rock, which was once just shells and bones of ancient sea creatures. Once tectonic activity began, the fossils of these animals hardened and turned into rock, resulting in the formation of these caves. Surprisingly, the Waitomo caves are made up of hundreds of different caves. The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is the most well-known, but there are at least a dozen others that can be visited on tours.

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Glowworms’ Life

Taking a tour is obviously the best way to explore the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, but you can also see these glowworms in other ways. You can see many glowworms along many other trails by climbing through other caves, especially at night. Of course, the concentration inside the Glowworm Cave makes it more special than any other location. For good reason, the cave has been a popular tourist destination for more than a century; it is absolutely breathtaking.

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Local Maori guides began taking tourists inside the caves in 1904, and the caves are still as impressive today as they were then. The light that these creatures emit is sure to impress anyone who enters the cave, making their brief existence even more depressing. Glowworms hatch into adult flies with a maximum lifespan of 2 to 3 days. They do not feed; instead, they mate and lay new eggs before dying. This information gives the beautiful caves a bittersweet vibe, knowing that these creatures create something we all marvel at, but then are unable to live.

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Aside from the glowworm, the cave cricket known as the weta is also a resident of these caves. They are an endemic group of insects found only in New Zealand, with approximately 70 different species. One of them is the giant weta, the world’s heaviest insect. Another intriguing aspect of these caves is that simply touching the limestone rocks can easily destroy them. These pillars and stalactites took thousands of years to form, so be cautious if you ever decide to visit.

Accommodation nearby

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