Waitomo Caves
Waitomo Caves is a cave system in the Waitomo District on New Zealand's North Island featuring three main caves with distinct characteristics including glow worms, underground streams, and limestone formations. The most visited is the glow worm cave where thousands of tiny glowing creatures dangle from above while visitors float past in boats.
The cave system formed about 30 million years ago when limestone was lifted from the sea and water carved channels through it. People have explored these caves for at least 400 to 500 years, and they have been a visitor attraction for over 130 years.
The caves hold deep significance for Maori people and their names reflect local heritage. Visitors today can observe how the community cares for these spaces and shares ancestral stories through guides who are descendants of early explorers.
The caves stay around 12 to 14 degrees Celsius year-round, so warm clothing and waterproof jackets are necessary. Good walking shoes with grip are important, and most tours last about one and a half to three hours, with several caves available in discounted package deals.
The glowing creatures are actually fungus gnat larvae, not true worms, and they use their light to attract insects that stick to their sticky silk threads. This glowing hunting method is found only in dark, humid caves and few places worldwide display this phenomenon so clearly.
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