Experience one of New Zealand’s best GlowWorm displays, deep in the Paparoa National Park, near Punakaiki New Zealand.

Following a short drive into the deep canyon of the Nile / Waitakere River, you’ll board the Nile River Rainforest Train for a 20 minute journey into the lush forests of the Paparoa National Park. It’s then just a short walk to the Metro / Te Ananui Cave, climbing high above the river to the cave entrance.

Leaving daylight behind you will explore as the first cavers did: with only the light you bring, and not a a handrail or boardwalk to be seen! It’s truly one of the few natural and “real” guided cave experiences left: seeing, feeling and getting close to an ancient wonderland sculpted by water and decorated with fragile calcite formations.

Underground you will visit such famous formations as The Altar, the highly decorated ‘Hall of Refugees’, Pancake Corner and more, before you emerge back to daylight at the awe-inspiring Main Entrance of the Metro / Te Ananui – having journeyed right through the mountain!

A short rest, then you’ll head back to find the stars of the show: Arachnocampa luminosa: the New Zealand GlowWorm. One becomes ten, then a hundred, then thousands. Before your eyes, entire galaxies of GlowWorms appear, spanning the ceiling over your head, following the streamway into the distance. Your guides will enrich your journey with captivating illustrations, explanations and stories connecting you with this special place.

Returning via the same path, you’ll emerge back to the daylight. A short stroll leads back to the train, then to the comparative civilisation of Charleston.

This is an unique journey that takes you into one of the few publicly accessible cave systems that remain in its state of natural, unspoiled beauty. It’s a simply stunning Eco-tour in a very special place.