Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 15 minutes

Mobile ticket

The fascinating Te Anau caves system on the western shore of Lake Te Anau offers an underground adventure that charms visitors of all ages. This tour takes you to a mysterious underground world of rushing water before drifting in silent darkness beneath the luminous shimmer of thousands of glowworms.

Please be sure to arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children aged 0-15 must be booked with at least one adult.

What To Expect

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

View glittering glowworms in an underground cave system.

2 hours 15 minutes • Admission Included

Lake Te Anau

Take a scenic cruise across beautiful Lake Te Anau on the luxury catamaran Luminosa to Cavern House on the lake's western shores.

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Complimentary Tea & Coffee

Lake cruise on Lake Te Anau

Food and drinks, unless specified

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Options

Glowworms - Te Anau Departure

Reviews

4.50

1,100 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

768

207

Highly recommend
debblee02,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We took the 4.30pm boat across to the caves..25mins. We were split in groups of 12, our guide was Abigail & we were the 1st to ho into the cave. It is low in some spots, we walked through & got on a boat, it is pitch black. We quietly drifted through & saw a lot of gloworms.
A Wonderful Experience
bcripps1,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very popular trip. Lovely ride across the lake to the caves. Very well organised with knowledgeable guides giving a full presentation prior to entering the caves themselves. Magical boat ride around the caves in silence so you can really appreciate what you're experiencing. A 'must do' trip. Don't miss it
Spectacular
Kapil M,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very well organized activity. Beautifully presented to get maximum effect. Going onto these beautiful caves with a stream running through it and seeing these millions of glow worms was other-worldly.
Glowing cave adventure
ECOtas,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Short but pleasant cruise across the lake in comfortable boat and friendly and informative hosts. Cave tour awesome. Small group, great leader. Cave is noisy with rushing water but the glow worms are fantastic. The in cave boat ride is fun and quiet - quite meditative. After the tour, the presentation on glow worms is really informative. Free tea and coffee.
Superb, worth booking
emmacX1937GE,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
The actual experience is fantastic, Niall was a brilliant guide and the tour was really informative and well organised. The glow worms were well worth the trip and it was a lovely idea to have hot drinks afterwards. One slight negative was the boat trip over, the trip itself was fine and I recognise the guide was very young, but the delivery was in a bored monotone that meant anyone who was even slightly hard of hearing couldn't hear what was I'm sure an interesting talk about the area. A lesson in delivery would mean everyone could hear and be engaged!
To expensive
X7652YNjom,May 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
The fee was ment to be $170 tax included but ended up being $290 BIG difference.
Almost a spiritual experience
Philip A,May 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
We have been to many many cavesv worldwide, but have never experienced glow worms before. An excellent tour with small groups, not very commercial at all. Highly recommended.
WOW
Pru12034,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great boat trip across the lake to start the adventure. Informative and lovely guide. Glow worms were great to see but the highlight was walking through the cave with the river flowing under and beside us. Not to be missed!!!!
Well run and flowed smoothly
Jeanne R,May 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00
Broken up into groups of 12 for the boat ride- and the time actually seeing the glow worms was only about 15 mins
Amazing experience
BenjyBear,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience, thoroughly enjoyed it. Be prepared to be in pitch darkness which is not something you often experience. The trip involves a boat trip across the lake, a video presentation, then a walk through the caves and a boat trip within the caves with an expert guide. Would definitely recommend - seeing the glow worms like pinpricks of light above you is amazing. Bear in mind you can't take photos or film the experience as the light from screens etc would ruin the experience.

From NZ$129.00

4.50

(1,100 reviews)

Free cancellation

Check availability

Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour

Related Experiences

Operated by RealNZ

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 15 minutes

Mobile ticket

Please be sure to arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Children aged 0-15 must be booked with at least one adult.

What To Expect

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

View glittering glowworms in an underground cave system.

2 hours 15 minutes • Admission Included

Lake Te Anau

Take a scenic cruise across beautiful Lake Te Anau on the luxury catamaran Luminosa to Cavern House on the lake's western shores.

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Complimentary Tea & Coffee

Lake cruise on Lake Te Anau

Food and drinks, unless specified

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Options

Glowworms - Te Anau Departure

Reviews

4.50

1,100 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

768

207

Highly recommend
debblee02,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We took the 4.30pm boat across to the caves..25mins. We were split in groups of 12, our guide was Abigail & we were the 1st to ho into the cave. It is low in some spots, we walked through & got on a boat, it is pitch black. We quietly drifted through & saw a lot of gloworms.
A Wonderful Experience
bcripps1,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very popular trip. Lovely ride across the lake to the caves. Very well organised with knowledgeable guides giving a full presentation prior to entering the caves themselves. Magical boat ride around the caves in silence so you can really appreciate what you're experiencing. A 'must do' trip. Don't miss it
Spectacular
Kapil M,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very well organized activity. Beautifully presented to get maximum effect. Going onto these beautiful caves with a stream running through it and seeing these millions of glow worms was other-worldly.
Glowing cave adventure
ECOtas,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Short but pleasant cruise across the lake in comfortable boat and friendly and informative hosts. Cave tour awesome. Small group, great leader. Cave is noisy with rushing water but the glow worms are fantastic. The in cave boat ride is fun and quiet - quite meditative. After the tour, the presentation on glow worms is really informative. Free tea and coffee.
Superb, worth booking
emmacX1937GE,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
The actual experience is fantastic, Niall was a brilliant guide and the tour was really informative and well organised. The glow worms were well worth the trip and it was a lovely idea to have hot drinks afterwards. One slight negative was the boat trip over, the trip itself was fine and I recognise the guide was very young, but the delivery was in a bored monotone that meant anyone who was even slightly hard of hearing couldn't hear what was I'm sure an interesting talk about the area. A lesson in delivery would mean everyone could hear and be engaged!
To expensive
X7652YNjom,May 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
The fee was ment to be $170 tax included but ended up being $290 BIG difference.
Almost a spiritual experience
Philip A,May 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
We have been to many many cavesv worldwide, but have never experienced glow worms before. An excellent tour with small groups, not very commercial at all. Highly recommended.
WOW
Pru12034,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great boat trip across the lake to start the adventure. Informative and lovely guide. Glow worms were great to see but the highlight was walking through the cave with the river flowing under and beside us. Not to be missed!!!!
Well run and flowed smoothly
Jeanne R,May 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00
Broken up into groups of 12 for the boat ride- and the time actually seeing the glow worms was only about 15 mins
Amazing experience
BenjyBear,May 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience, thoroughly enjoyed it. Be prepared to be in pitch darkness which is not something you often experience. The trip involves a boat trip across the lake, a video presentation, then a walk through the caves and a boat trip within the caves with an expert guide. Would definitely recommend - seeing the glow worms like pinpricks of light above you is amazing. Bear in mind you can't take photos or film the experience as the light from screens etc would ruin the experience.