Waitomo Glowworm Tour at Footwhistle Cave

Waitomo, New Zealand

Experience a glowworm light show among the fantastical rock formations of Footwhistle cave, an extensive cave system in Waitomo. Glowworms create a starry glow around you as your expert guide leads you through a cavern dripping in stalactites and stalagmites. Softly lit by candles and solar-powered lights, the cave’s subterranean beauty is mesmerizing! This small-group tour limited to 13 people ensures personalized attention from your guide.

Meet your guide and small group at the CaveWorld office, then hop in a shuttle for a 5-minute ride to the cave. Disembark and follow your guide on a short walk through New Zealand’s lush forest where you can glimpse native birds, ferns and a large waterfall that feeds a stream that runs into the cave.

Pause at the entrance while your eyes adjust to the dim light and listen as your guide shares the history of Footwhistle cave, known to local Maori as Te Anaroa cave. Once you’re ready, enter the candle-lit cavern.

Marvel at the soft pinpoints of light that come from the glowworms surrounding you. Your guide can help you get great photos in the dim cavern. Continue further into the cave on a side passage where you will see ancient bones from a moa, a large emu-like bird that went extinct about 600 years ago.

As you slowly walk through the cave system, note its otherworldly setting of sparkly stalactite and stalagmite formations, twinkling bugs, and a bubbling stream that runs through the cave.

When you reach the largest cavern, take a seat as your guide demonstrates how the first cave tours were conducted more than 100 years ago. Your guide lights a magnesium torch that flares brightly for a moment, revealing sculptural rock formations and a dome-shaped ceiling. As the torch fades, your guide turns on the lights and gives you time to look around the magnificent space.

Make your way back to the cave entrance after about 30 minutes and return by shuttle to the office where your tour ends.

USD $43.00

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   gidge62,    March 2018
This was the best tour of a Glow Worm Caves we did! Extremely knowledgeable, interesting and personable guide. We booked this tour for the small group advertised and ended up with just four, so very private tour! No crowds!! Taken by mini bus to a privately owned cave with such a lovely entrance through tropical rainforest. Everything was explained to us throughout the tour, no rush, one to one with even the guide taking photos of us with the glow worms! Finished off with traditional bush tea. I would highly recommend this tour to anybody. Absolutely loved it!!

Review by:   David K,    January 2018
Great overall tour. We were the only ones on the tour so had a personal guide. Tea at the end of the tour was a great little finish.

Review by:   David B,    April 2017
We loved the caves. It was also very nice to learn about the history of the area from our guide. As there were only 12 people, there was plenty of time to take it all in and ask questions - like having a personal guide. The kawa kawa tea ceremony was fantastic and a nice touch.

Review by:   Fiona F,    July 2016
Fantastic and highly recommended. Tour guide was great and the cave was amazing.

Review by:   Louise G,    March 2016
This was a delightful experience where we got to see amazing caves, cave wetas and the local scenery all with extra information provided by our tour guide Ross who had amazing knowledge of all the flora, fauna and geology and history._br/_ There were crazy queues up the road for other cave tours but this was more intimate and brilliant._br/_ Go it's great fun.

Review by:   Michael S,    December 2015
Pay careful attention to the description. This is a tour of Footwhistle Cave, not the more famous Waitomo Cave. You'll have to climb down and then back up about 100 steps so skip this one if you've got mobility or stamina problems. Overall, a nice tour though, with plenty of glowworms on display.

Review by:   Matthew S,    May 2015
Great guide, interesting but underwhelming experience. Worth seeing, but not the best thing you'll see in NZ

All Traveler Reviews...