New Zealand’s Waitomo Caves are one of the most famous cave systems in the world, thanks to the thousands of glow worms that live within them. The glow worm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand, and inside the Waitomo Caves, these tiny creatures—each one about the size of a mosquito—shine enough luminescent light to cast the caves in a beautiful, eerie glow. Of the different sections within the caves, the Cathedral may be the most well-known. This enclosed area has an 18-metre high ceiling, which gives it great acoustics—such good acoustics, in fact, that several famous singers and choirs have performed within the cave.
There are about 300 known limestone caves in the Waitomo region, created by various geological and volcanic activities over the last 30 million years. As such, the area has excellent rock climbing, abseiling and black water rafting opportunities.
- WebsiteWaitomo Caves
