In which country are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves located?
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves attraction is a cave at Waitomo on the North Island of New Zealand. It is known for its population of "Arachnocampa luminosa", a glowworm species found exclusively in New Zealand. This cave is part of the Waitomo Caves system that includes the Ruakuri Cave and the Aranui Cave.
The limestone formation in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves occurred when the region was still under the ocean about 30 million years ago. The limestone is composed of fossilized corals, seashells, fish skeletons, and many small marine organisms on the sea beds. Over millions of years, these fossilized rocks have been layered upon each other and compressed to create limestone and within the Waitomo region the limestone can be over 200 m thick.
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29 Comments
Mike Reidy
Visited there last year, brilliant, New Zealand is a fab place!
Chris Brown
Waitomo geology: The History of Waitomo Glowworm Cave
The caves were first explored in 1887 by local Maori Chief Tane Tinorau accompanied by an English surveyor Fred Mace.
Local Maori people knew of the Caves existence, but the subterranean caverns had never been extensively explored until Fred and Tane went to investigate. They built a raft of flax stems and with candles as their only lighting, floated into the cave where the stream goes underground.
As they entered the caves, their first discovery was the Glowworm Grotto with its myriad of tiny bright lights dotting the cave ceiling. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they saw a multitude of lights reflecting off the water. Looking up, they discovered that the ceilings were dotted with the lights of thousands of glowworms. Debris and logs littered the waterway, but by poling themselves toward the embankment they were able to leave the raft and explore the lower levels of the cave. Here they found themselves surrounded by the glorious cave decorations.
By 1889 Tane Tinorau had opened the cave to tourists. Visitor numbers soared and Chief Tane and his wife Huti escorted groups through the cave for a small fee. In 1906 the administration of the cave was taken over by the government. In 1989, almost 100 years later, the land and the cave were returned to the descendants of the original owners. Many staff employed at the caves today are direct descendants of Chief Tane Tinorau and his wife Huti.
Chris Brown
The History of Waitomo Glowworm Cave
The caves were first explored in 1887 by local Maori Chief Tane Tinorau accompanied by an English surveyor Fred Mace.
Local Maori people knew of the cave's existence, but the subterranean caverns had never been extensively explored until Fred and Tane went to investigate. They built a raft of flax stems and with candles as their only lighting, floated into the cave where the stream goes underground.
As they entered the caves, their first discovery was the Glowworm Grotto with its myriad of tiny bright lights dotting the cave ceiling. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they saw a multitude of lights reflecting off the water. Looking up, they discovered that the ceilings were dotted with the lights of thousands of glowworms. Debris and logs littered the waterway, but by poling themselves toward the embankment they were able to leave the raft and explore the lower levels of the cave. Here they found themselves surrounded by the glorious cave decorations.
By 1889 Tane Tinorau had opened the cave to tourists. Visitor numbers soared and Chief Tane and his wife Huti escorted groups through the cave for a small fee. In 1906 the administration of the cave was taken over by the government. In 1989, almost 100 years later, the land and the cave were returned to the descendants of the original owners. Many staff employed at the caves today are direct descendants of Chief Tane Tinorau and his wife Huti.
Chris Brown
I live in Wellington and visited Waitomo many years ago. Waitomo is a Maori word made up of two parts, 'Wai' which translates as water and 'tomo' which means entrance or hole. Waitomo can be translated as the 'stream which flows into the hole in the ground'.
Irene Townsend
Great place to visit. New Zealand is worth a visit beautiful place, both North and South Island
ninakamwene
Way to go Kiwi Land I have been there since my daughter is half but did not visit the caves. I do not like hidden places like caves. NZ is truly beautiful.
Paul Darrall
Had to get that one right - Waitomo lies about 60 km south of where I live.
Ketan Patel
Name sounded Kiwi.
Kirsten Burke
Teresa Irving, same here lol.... gotta go some day
Peter Robertson
Lynne Cage, Literally,Wai = water, tomo = hole..
schlabachkathy
We have been to the north island 💕beautiful place
Wayne Linburg
A very unique experience and one of the best tours in the country. In one section you can horrifying through on a boat. It's like the Milky Way in a cave. And you can go Black Water Rafting in another section. You are all in wet suits in inner tubes snaking through the caves. It is really cool !
Wayne Linburg
Lynne Cage, It is a Maori word meaning "water that runs through a hole".
Sue Hardie
Which part of middle earth? Kevin Dale Streets,
girl pn
Got ot by choosing 1st choice