Te Anau Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

A journey into nature’s nightlight

Are you looking for an offbeat family experience? Hop on this 2.5-hour tour of Te Anau Glowworm Caves with a small group for an intimate and personalized experience. Your guided tour begins with a refreshing cruise across the serene Lake Te Anau, aboard a purpose-built vessel. As you soak in the tranquil beauty of the lake, prepare to be intrigued by the informative and engaging displays at the Cavern House, your first stop on the Western shore. On this astounding journey, you'll be accompanied by an expert nature guide who will illuminate the wonders of this unique ecosystem.

A luminary exploration

Descend into the heart of the Glowworm Caves, a place where hundreds of bioluminescent gnats, mistakenly called glow worms, create an ethereal light show. Traversing the underground network, you'll pass by the rushing water of an underground stream, an experience that is sure to leave you awestruck. Post the subterranean adventure, complimentary tea and coffee serve as a warm, comforting conclusion. This tour beautifully combines the tranquility of Lake Te Anau, the enchantment of the Glowworm Caves, and a fascinating forest walk, promising a memorable exploration of New Zealand's Fiordland region.

Te Anau Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Discover the Te Anau Glowworm Caves on this 2.5-hour guided tour that includes a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau, an exploration of the subterranean wonder known as the Glowworm Grotto, and a serene forest walk along the shore. This small-group experience offers sightseeing opportunities at multiple landmarks including the Cavern House with its informative displays about the caves' history, and the pristine natural beauty of Fiordland National Park. The tour includes complimentary tea or coffee upon return to Lake Te Anau's Western shore, ensuring a memorable adventure for families. With audio guides available in English and Maori, this guided tour provides an immersive experience of New Zealand’s unique underground ecosystem. Guests can expect to spend approximately 2 hours exploring the caves themselves, with additional time dedicated to the scenic cruise and forest walk. The Te Anau Glowworm Caves are relatively young at just 12,000 years old, still being sculpted by the river flowing within them.

Explore Lake Te Anau

Your tour begins with a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau where you will admire its stunning natural beauty and learn about its ecological significance. Spanning over 268 square kilometers (104 sq mi), this is the second-largest lake in New Zealand, known for its crystal-clear waters and rich biodiversity. Established as part of Fiordland National Park in 1952, Lake Te Anau plays a crucial role in supporting local wildlife and offers breathtaking views to visitors. During your cruise, you will spend approximately 30 minutes traveling from the starting point to Cavern House on the Western shore, where informative displays about the caves await.

Discover the Glowworm Grotto

Your tour stops at the Glowworm Grotto where guests can marvel at a mesmerizing natural light show created by bioluminescent gnats. The grotto is part of a larger cave system that extends for over 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) in length, showcasing intricate rock formations and stunning stalactites and stalagmites. This unique feature sets the Te Anau Glowworm Caves apart from other underground attractions, offering visitors an unforgettable experience as they walk through the darkened caverns illuminated only by the glow of thousands of tiny insects. The grotto is approximately 12 meters (39 ft) in height and 50 meters (164 ft) wide at its widest point, making it one of the largest natural cave formations in New Zealand. Visitors spend around 45 minutes exploring this enchanting subterranean wonder.

Enjoy a Serene Forest Walk

At the conclusion of your cave exploration, guests can enjoy a serene forest walk along the shore of Lake Te Anau with their guide. The trail covers approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 mi) and takes about 20 minutes to complete, allowing visitors ample time to learn about native flora and fauna such as podocarp trees and kiwi birds. This section of the tour provides a refreshing contrast to the underground adventure, offering insights into New Zealand’s diverse natural environment while walking through ancient forests that have been preserved for thousands of years. The forest walk is an essential part of the overall experience, complementing the cave exploration with its peaceful ambiance and educational value.

Tour Highlights

• Scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau
• 2-hour tour exploring Glowworm Grotto
• Audio guides in English and Maori languages
• Serene forest walk along the shore for 20 minutes
• Complimentary tea or coffee upon return to Western shore
• Informative displays at Cavern House on caves' history
• Guided exploration of intricate rock formations inside caves
• Unique opportunity to see bioluminescent gnats in action

Perfect for nature enthusiasts, families, and adventure seekers, this guided tour provides an immersive experience of New Zealand's unique underground ecosystem. The 2.5-hour format allows you to explore the stunning Glowworm Grotto, enjoy a serene forest walk along Lake Te Anau’s shore, and learn about the cave system's geological history at Cavern House, giving you a comprehensive understanding of Fiordland National Park's natural wonders.