Twinkle, twinkle, little glowworm!

Photo courtesy of Waitomo Glowworms Cave

The North Island of New Zealand has an abundance of natural treasures. Among them is the world-renowned Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The name “Waitomo” comes from the Māoris words wai and tomo, meaning hole or shaft.

The local people had known about the caves for a century or so before two English surveyors were shown the entrance back in the 1880s. The pair, together with Māori Chief Tane, conducted explorations of the area by candlelight and via a raft they took into the cave where the stream goes underground. During their journey, they came across the Glowworm Grotto and were awestruck by the twinkling lights coming from the ceiling.

Photo courtesy of Waitomo Glowworms Cave

As they traveled further into the cave, the men were also amazed by the limestone formations, which surrounded them in all shapes and sizes. This limestone is composed of fossilized corals, seashells, fish skeletons and many small marine organisms, which have been layered upon each other and compressed. The caves began to form when volcanic activity caused the limestone to buckle under the ocean and rise above the sea floor. As the rock was exposed to air, it separated, creating cracks that allowed for water to flow through them. The limestone eventually dissolved, leading to the development of a multitude of caves.

Today, there are around 300 limestone caves in the Waitomo region. These formations stand as one of the country’s most inspiring natural wonders and are a must-see destination for visitors to New Zealand.

Photo courtesy of Waitomo Glowworm Caves

On a tour of the caves, you’ll see stalactites and stalagmites and a host of other cave decorations, which have taken millions of years to form. To provide some perspective, the average stalactite grows one cubic centimeter every one hundred years. You’ll also note that the walls of the cave are covered with fungi, in particular a variety called the cave flower that is actually a mushroom-like fungus.

The star of the caves, however, are the glowworms. Unique to New Zealand, these insects are closely guarded by a Scientific Advisory Group, who monitors the air quality of the caves to establish how they should be managed. They determine when air flow patterns should be altered and how many people can visit the caves on any given day.

The guided tour through the caves begins at the top level and the Catacombs. This upper area is dry and decorated with the stunning, delicate formations. It’s a gallery of modern art, with formations resembling people, animals and even extraterrestrial beings.

Photo courtesy of Waitomo Glowworms Cave

From there, you’ll descend to the second level or Banquet Chamber. This is where early visitors would stop to eat and you can still see evidence of this in the smoke on the ceiling.

The third and final level heads down into the Cathedral, an enclosed area with a height of sixty feet. This is the tallest chamber in the cave. The formations here look like pipe organs and the dome-shaped roof absorbs sound, creating ideal acoustics for singing. Over the years, a number of famous singers and choirs have performed in this space. To demonstrate the sound quality, our guide sang us a Maori love song.

The tour concludes with the highly anticipated boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. You’ll glide along the underground Waitomo River, where the only light comes from the tiny glowworms. These magical glowworms create a sky of living lights. It’s a starry wonderland, as thousands of these creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescence in the subterranean world.

Photo courtesy of Waitomo Glowworms Cave

The creatures glow because they’re hungry and their light attracts insects. Each glowworm has ten to twenty strands under it, which look like icicles. When the insects gravitate toward the light, they get caught up in this sticky web, making them easy prey for the glowworms.

You might be surprised to learn that the glowworms are actually maggots, not worms. But, in the words of our guide, “Nobody would probably come and pay to see a glow maggot cave!”

Of note is the fact that many of the guides and other employees of the cave are direct descendants of the Maori chief, who was the original explorer. They help bring the cave to life through colorful tales and legends, drawing you into this magical place.

If you go: www.waitomo.com

Debbie Stone is an established travel writer and columnist, who crosses the globe in search of unique destinations and experiences to share with her readers and listeners. She’s an avid explorer who welcomes new opportunities to increase awareness and enthusiasm for places, culture, food, history, nature, outdoor adventure, wellness and more. Her travels have taken her to nearly 100 countries spanning all seven continents, and her stories appear in numerous print and digital publications.