Waitomo Caves, Limestone cave system in Waitomo District, New Zealand.
The Waitomo cave network extends through multiple levels, featuring underground rivers, stalactites, stalagmites, and naturally formed chambers spanning several kilometers.
In 1887, Maori chief Tane Tinorau and English surveyor Fred Mace conducted the first documented exploration of the caves using a raft of flax stems.
The Waitomo caves remain under the guardianship of Tane Tinorau's descendants, who manage this natural formation according to Maori traditions and values.
Visitors can choose between three main caves - Glowworm, Ruakuri, and Aranui - each offering different duration tours and geological features throughout the day.
The cave ceilings host thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa larvae that produce blue-green light to attract prey through sticky threads.
Location: Waitomo District
Website: http://www.waitomocaves.com/
Website: http://waitomocaves.com
GPS coordinates: -38.26066,175.10945
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:50
Underground structures and natural caves across countries, from ancient burial grounds to mining sites. These locations display geological features and historical developments of human civilization.
From moving stones in the desert to caves illuminated by glowworms, these places showcase natural phenomena and geological formations. The locations include pink lakes, underground caverns, mysterious stone circles, and volcanic features. These natural sites present unusual colors, shapes, and scientific phenomena across all continents
New Zealand offers photographic locations from mountains and beaches to cities. The landscape spans from thermal springs in Rotorua to glaciers in the Southern Alps. Visitors find waterfalls like Purakaunui, volcanoes like Mount Taranaki, and sand beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. The Hobbiton film set, Waitomo Caves, and Larnach Castle showcase cultural diversity.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
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