Waitomo Glowworm Caves
There are millions of things one can do when travelling through New Zealand. You could spend weeks or even months exploring the beautiful nature, lakes, mountains, the sea. And, like I just found out, also caves.
The ones I am going to write about are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. They are on the North Island and apparently one of New Zealand’s most popular attractions. Visitors can go on a guided tour down into the caves to see, what looks like a starlit sky on their ceilings. The reason for that phenomenon is a species called Arachnocampa luminosa, or more simply Glowworm, which is found exclusively in New Zealand. They glow to attract prey, which is then caught in the silk strands they drop down from the ceiling. (So basically visitors are admiring a graveyard of moths and other small insects. But still, it looks pretty amazing.) During the tour visitors have to be quiet, because any disturbances could frighten the worms, which then would stop glowing.
To assure that the worms are not harmed by the many visitors they are closely monitored by a Scientific Advisory Group. They, for example, determine if and when the airflow patterns should be changed and how many visitors are allowed down into the cave.
The Caves were first explored by the local Maori chief and an English explorer in 1887 and just two years later the chief and his wife opened it for tourists and guided them through the cave for a small fee. In 1906 the administration was taken over by the government, but it was given back to the descendants of the chief and his wife in 1989. Even today a lot of the employees are descendants of these two.
So, if you’re planning a trip to New Zealand, the Waitomo Glowworm Cave are definitely something you should keep in mind. I certainly will.
