New Zealand glow worms caves: Waitomo or Te Anau

Posted by Freddie James (Arkansas) on 09/04/17 04:32 AM

Can anyone please offer any opinions on the differences between the glow worm experience at Te Anau versus that at Waitomo? I'm wondering more about the "wow" factor of the glow worms, rather than the geology of the caves.

I'm focusing on the South Island for this trip and only have 12 full days. But I will be spending the last day or two in or around Auckland. Otherwise, I wasn't planning anything else on the North Island for this trip, unless it is worth going out of my way to see Waitomo? If Te Anau is just as good or better for the bioluminescent experience, that would be ideal because I'll be in that area anyway. But I'm willing to consider a side trip to Waitomo if it is significantly better.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Posted by JS

Bay Area

09/04/17 08:28 AM

3551 posts

Some yrs ago we went to Waitomo as it intriqued us. However we were disappointed once we toured it. To go out of your way imo is not worth it.

Posted by Robert

Colorado Springs

09/04/17 02:38 PM

3008 posts

Have only done the trip across the lake from Te Anau but can recommend it highly. I think it will have the wow factor you're looking for - it certainly did for my wife and I. The company does a great job organizing the tour, and the village of Te Anau is itself quite pretty - lots of nice day hikes in the vicinity and it's strategically located about an hour from Milford Sound via one of the most scenic drives on earth.
And as an added bonus, your chances of being mugged (per your other post regarding your experience in Rome) are effectively zero....

Posted by Lane

USA

09/04/17 04:03 PM

125 posts

I haven't seen the glowworms in Te Anau, but I took the Spellbound glowworm cave tour in Waitomo and it was magical. I liked that it is a small-group tour (no more than 12 people). A guide took us in a minibus to private farmland where the caves are. The drive itself was beautiful. We explored two caves. The first had glowworms. We walked through the cave and then floated in a boat through the main glowworm cavern. We saw thousands of twinkly blue glowworms. It felt otherworldly in a positive, breathtaking kind of way. After exploring the glowworm cave, we had a tea break with complimentary tea (or hot cocoa) and biscuits. There was also a bathroom we could use. After the tea break, we explored a different cave. The tour lasted about 3.5 hours and we loved it.

If you are an adrenaline junkie, there are also adventure tours in Waitomo in which you rappel into a cave, swim in the water, and rock-climb. It all depends what you are looking for.

Posted by Freddie James OP

Arkansas

09/04/17 04:45 PM

5 posts

I appreciate the responses. This will be a tough choice, but it sounds like I can't go wrong.

Posted by Ceidleh

Boston, MA, United States

09/04/17 05:21 PM

1806 posts

I did other activities in Te Anau, so can only say I did the glow worm caves in Waitomo. I did a tour similar to the one Lane described and thought it was really good. I thought there was a definite "wow" factor at Waitomo seeing the worms glowing up on the ceiling of the cave like thousands of little stars. But if you want to avoid traveling out of your way if at all possible, just check reviews on TripAdvisor to see what people have to say about the experience in Te Anau.