Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour
Overview
Available languages
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
View glittering glowworms in an underground cave system.
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.
What‘s Included
Complimentary Tea & Coffee
Lake cruise on Lake Te Anau
Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Glowworms - Te Anau Departure
Reviews
952 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Magical glow worm experience. Even if you have done glow worms before, do this one.
Jacqueline B,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Overall, fantastic experience. The silent boat inside the cave is intense, and markedly more interesting than any of my previous glow worm experiences. Like everything with RealNZ, the timing is designed to maximise the number of people they can pump through. Quantity over quality. This means a fair bit of waiting around at different points. But overall, it’s worth it.
Great day out!
Y6561NRbenr,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Baby glow worms have hatched. Caves glowing best ever. Jaimie and Emmy giving a high quality energetic and nature connecting tour. Don’t miss a must do in Te Anau. Real immersive experience! Keegan was excellent, super friendly and insightful on the boat rides over
Great experience, average guide
nathancZ4026RG,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00It was a truly remarkable experience. Seeing the glowworms in their natural habitat is like viewing a vast night sky full of stars. Our tour guide though was unenthusiastic about the experience and dampened it a bit. Also, you are not allowed to taken ANY photos while inside the cave or of the glowworms. They said because they worms would turn off by the “artificial” light in our phones and watches yet the tour guide would blast them with her bright and artificial flashlight. It would have been nice to know this BEFORE the tour.
Excellent Experience
rosemaryelaineh,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience! Informative and beautiful. Staff were very helpful and knowledgeable.
Cave tour cancelled
mglynatsis,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00It rained the night before and our cave tour had to be cancelled. I am now waiting for a refund. However I haven’t heard from Viotor yet. The tour company said that somebody would be in touch with me.
Fun activity for the kiddos.
Lucy V,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a lot of fun if you're traveling with kids. It's a day trip from Queenstown that you have to drive yourself. Then there's a cruise to the caves, then a short walk to the cave, where you're on another small boat that floats through the cave where you see the glow worms. That part takes about 20 minutes. After that, there is a brief talk about the worms. I took my 12-year old. I don't know that I it would have been as interesting if we were just adults.
Loved it
G428IEclairea,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Definitely recommend. Worth the price even though expensive. Thought the glow worm were once in a lifetime experience
Amazing opportunity to...
Leanne I,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing opportunity to experience glow worms in their natural environment and an opportunity to see an extraordinary cave environment formed by glaciers.
Amazing
Getaway48289510552,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing. Lovely boat ride and the cave experience was incredible. Our kids really enjoyed seeing the glowworms, it was magical.
Good experience
supriadi s,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Unique experience Boat trip was special Learnt something new I hope we didn’t disturb their natural habitat
From NZ$129.00
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Operated by RealNZ