Experience a Kawiti Glowworm Cave Tour
Your guided tour will follow a wooden boardwalk through a 200 metre limestone cave system. Once inside, you will see thousands of glow worms spread across the ceiling surrounded by breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites.
Our Tours
As you enjoy the galaxies of glowworms above, your friendly guide will explain the life cycle of the New Zealand Glowworm (Arachnocampa Luminosa) and the intricate webs used to catch their prey.
Daytime Tours
Our guided 45 minute Daytime Tours run from 9am until 4pm, seven days a week. Tour group sizes can range from a single person to a maximum of 40 people in one tour. Whether you are exploring with family, friends or part of an excursion, our knowledgeable and entertaining guides will provide you with an unforgettable experience.
Twilight Tours
Our bespoke Twilight Tours are also known as our Te Ara Ngahere tours. You will be picked up from your accommodation in Paihia. Experience Maori protocol, participate in discussions about rongoa (traditional Maori healing), and explore the caves as twilight sets in. End your evening with a shared meal in the lush cave surrounds. These tours are by appointment only and are available for groups of 12 or more.
Educational Tours
Our Educational Tours are popular with local and national school groups. These tours focus on the types of formations within the caves system, the life and habits of glowworms, flora and fauna as well as sustainability and preserving our environment.
Cave Details
The caves are 200 metres in length Handrails and wooden walkways through the cave and most of the bushwalk track over the hill, returning to the car park.
Sensible flat walking shoes and a light jacket are recommended.
There is no pushchair or wheelchair access.
No photography or video recording inside the caves
Good vehicle access and parking
Glow Worm Details
3 Main Glowworm displays throughout the cave. New Zealand Glowworm (Arachnocampa Luminosa). Arachnocampa Luminosa glowworm is a transparent larva of the Fungus Gnat. It has a 4 stage life cycle of 10 to 11 months from egg to adult fly. Each glowworm grows from 2mm to 40mm long and has a bright green/blue tail light.
The Arachnocampa Luminosa glowworm is unique to New Zealand and thrives in damp, humid, dark environments like caves, catching small flying insects (mosquitoes and midges) with sticky webs called fishing lines.
