Guided Tours

Te Anau Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

Duration

2 hrs 15 mins

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

Discover the luminary magic of Te Anau's Glowworm Caves on a guided tour that combines a tranquil lake cruise, forest walk, and underground spectacle.

4.6/5(44)

Lynette S

Family

Verified booking

Jun 2026

The cruise across the lake is lovely and relaxing. The tour guides are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Going through the cave in the boat is magical and wonderful for all ages.

Anne-britt B

Group

Verified booking

May 2026

This was a return visit for us after our honeymoon 15 years ago. The crew of the boat through to the tour guides were all friendly and knowledgeable. And the tour through the caves was a fun experience. We enjoyed it just as much a second time! There are stairs along the sturdy walkways, but it's an easy walk for most .. only two low spots that require ducking quite low, but nothing too arduous.

Enjoy a small-group guided tour of the Te Anau Glowworm Caves with your family, a 2.5-hour journey exploring New Zealand's famed subterranean wonder.

Begin with a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau, leading to the Cavern House on the Western shore, featuring informative displays about the caves.

Venture into the heart of the Glowworm Caves, a mesmerizing natural light show created by bioluminescent gnats, a quintessential Fiordland experience.

Go on a serene forest walk with your guide, learning about native flora and fauna, before cruising back and enjoying complimentary tea or coffee.

Did you know? These caves are relatively young, at just 12,000 years old, and are still being sculpted by the river flowing within them.

Glowworm Caves tour

Forest walk

Return cruise across Lake Te Anau

Expert guide

Small group (max 14 people)

Complimentary tea & coffee

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

44 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
33
7
3
0
1
Guests from Australia, United States, Germany and over 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Anne-britt B
Group
Verified booking
May 2026
This was a return visit for us after our honeymoon 15 years ago. The crew of the boat through to the tour guides were all friendly and knowledgeable. And the tour through the caves was a fun experience. We enjoyed it just as much a second time! There are stairs along the sturdy walkways, but it's an easy walk for most .. only two low spots that require ducking quite low, but nothing too arduous.
Deana B
Couple
Verified booking
May 2026
Loved it! Loved the sailing across to the caves just as much as seeing and finding out all about these little critters. The crew and guides were personable and humorous. It was a fun and unique way to spend a couple of hours and I'd highly recommend it.
Lynette S
Family
Verified booking
Jun 2026
The cruise across the lake is lovely and relaxing. The tour guides are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Going through the cave in the boat is magical and wonderful for all ages.
Linda C
Couple
Verified booking
Apr 2026
Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Glow maggots were fascinating and a bit gross! Very dark in cave so be careful. Well worth it for atmosphere and experience.
Gabriel G
Couple
Verified booking
Mar 2026
The cave with the river and waterfalls were amazing. The gloworms are not as impressive as Waitomo caves, but still beautiful to see. The staff are great and friendly

A journey into nature’s nightlight

Are you looking for an offbeat family experience? Hop on this 2.5-hour tour of Te Anau Glowworm Caves with a small group for an intimate and personalized experience. Your guided tour begins with a refreshing cruise across the serene Lake Te Anau, aboard a purpose-built vessel. As you soak in the tranquil beauty of the lake, prepare to be intrigued by the informative and engaging displays at the Cavern House, your first stop on the Western shore. On this astounding journey, you'll be accompanied by an expert nature guide who will illuminate the wonders of this unique ecosystem.

A luminary exploration

Descend into the heart of the Glowworm Caves, a place where hundreds of bioluminescent gnats, mistakenly called glow worms, create an ethereal light show. Traversing the underground network, you'll pass by the rushing water of an underground stream, an experience that is sure to leave you awestruck. Post the subterranean adventure, complimentary tea and coffee serve as a warm, comforting conclusion. This tour beautifully combines the tranquility of Lake Te Anau, the enchantment of the Glowworm Caves, and a fascinating forest walk, promising a memorable exploration of New Zealand's Fiordland region.

What to bring

It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes or boots, a waterproof jacket, and a warm sweater or fleece jacket.

It is advised to carry sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent.

What's not allowed

Photography and video filming are not permitted inside the cave.

Accessibility

This experience is not suitable for wheelchair passengers or those wearing heeled shoes.

A reasonable agility level is necessary as some bending is required due to low cave entrances, and steps are involved.

This experience is not suitable for infants.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Please arrive at the meeting point 20 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide at RealNZ - Te Anau Visitor Centre.

Address: 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9640, New Zealand.

Get directions to the meeting point