Te Anau Glow Worm Caves: Mysterious Underground Adventure Beneath Shimmering Glowworms

Explore the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves and experience a mysterious underground adventure beneath shimmering glowworms. Book your tour now and be amazed!

Duration: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

The captivating Te Anau cave system, located on the western shore of Lake Te Anau, provides an enchanting underground experience that delights visitors of every age. This tour guides you through a mysterious subterranean realm of flowing water, culminating in a serene drift beneath the radiant glow of countless glowworms.
Please ensure arrival 20 minutes…

Location
Te Anau Glowworm Caves - RealNZ
Lakefront Drive
Please arrive at the RealNZ Visitor Centre, 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau at least 20 minutes before your scheduled departure.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.5
(1076 Ratings)
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1 star
Steve_s
Mar 25, 2026
Very enjoyable experience. - Well organised and very attentive to all participants. We had a lovely day with a smooth crossing and the Captain and mate controlled everything well. Once at the cave the instructions were clear and concise and what to expect was well explained. Everyone on the tour had an excellent time and it really looked like the staff enjoyed the experience as well.
Review provided by Viator
Ken
Mar 24, 2026
Stunning lake trip and mesmerising cave walk - Stunning boat trip across the lake on the way to the caves. The guys running our trip were informative and friendly which made the the really good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kim
Mar 23, 2026
A Magical Experience! - We had an amazing experience on our Real NZ Glow Worm Boat tour. Abigail was our narrator on the boat ride and Neill was our cave guide. Both of them were upbeat and personable and did an excellent job of informing and enlightening us during the trip. The walk thru the caves was an adventure: Stooping over underneath low hanging rocks, walking beside rushing water, imagining what it was like to explore the caves without the benefit of walkways and path lighting. The small boat ride into the glow worm cavern was magical! Don’t miss this experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigator19594348504
Mar 22, 2026
Nice experience in Te Anau - The visit was really interesting after a nice boat trip! If you have a little bit time in Te Anau, don't hesitate to go there!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Halina
Mar 22, 2026
Great experience - Well organised and informative tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O5253thandrewh
Mar 22, 2026
Fantastic - Fantastic experience! Caves were amazing and plenty of glow worms to see. Guide was knowledgeable and informative.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sam
Mar 21, 2026
A wonderful cave experience with the addition of glow worms! - This experience was completely unexpected! The 30 minute boat ride from Te Anau was very smooth - it is a lake, after all. On arrival at the caves, you are separated into groups of 12, with a guide for each group. Entry into the caves is easy but does require some degree of personal mobility and flexibility. There are low spots, which mean you have to get down low. As soon as you enter the cave, you are walking above an underground river. It is absolutely stunning. The lighting gradually dims to acclimatise you to the final destination. You finally get on board a boat (12 passengers and your guide). It is propelled by the guide pulling on a rope attached to the cave wall. By this time you have been asked to be completely silent, you are in complete silence and the only thing visible is the glow worms, looking like stars in the night sky. After you return to reality, there is a presentation which explains the glow ‘worms’ and their life cycle. Summary: Absolutely awesome and worth every dollar and minute. The guides are great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timmos8
Mar 21, 2026
Definitely worth doing - Awesome experience but you can’t take photos or videos so it’s just memories. Educational and fun plus the boat floating through the glow worm cave is amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Discover17825241833
Mar 24, 2026
Glow Worms - Well coordinated. Interesting but overpriced for the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_b
Mar 23, 2026
It was a little underwhelming .. - Nice boat ride over but seemed to spend more time in a side room waiting for other groups to go before us which cut down the time we had in the caves which seemed minimal. Guide was very knowledgeable but not the experience we expected for the cost. No photos allowed so cannot post any on thus review. Pictures on website don't really reflect experience
Review provided by Viator
From $76
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).