Experience a Glow Worm Cave in New Zealand via Black Water Rafting

Experiences You Should Have Podcast

That's right, I said black water rafting in a glow worm cave in New Zealand. This is not white water rafting, and you're not in a raft, I know the name is deceiving. But you can experience rappelling (or abseiling as New Zealanders and Europeans call it) into a glow worm cave, then zip-lining in the cave as you see glow worms whizzing past you. The adventure does not end there. You then jump off a 15-foot cliff into the water, in the cave. The water temperature is 10-14°C / 50-57°F, but you do wear a padded wetsuit. At the end of the tour, you get to free climb up a waterfall. How's that for adventure?!

Christine Pham paints the picture beautifully and explains the full experience in this episode. (Christine is actually trying to become the Chief Experience Officer for Cancun, you can vote for her here).

Glow Worm Facts

A glow worm is in its glow worm cave for 9-10 months and it lives for about a year. It then lives in a cocoon for 2-3 weeks. These fungus gnats make love then the female will lay its eggs then die. How's that for a life? Glow worms are actual carnivores and cannibals. Glow worms are in the cave year round but the summertime (in New Zealand) has the most hatched glow worms. There are more glow worms during this time, but you can go anytime in the year and see glow worms.

Logistics for the Glow Worm Black Water Rafting Adventure

* The cost for this black abyss tour is about 250 NZ dollars (175 US Dollars).

* You spend 2.5-3 hours in the cave

* Restrictions - Come as a complete newbie, don't need skills at all. You need to be 16 years old and at least 45 KG.

* Walking - You do walk a fair amount, about 200 meters, but it seems longer because you are walking in water and over rocks.

* Where Can You Do It? In this podcast episode, Christine talked about the Black Abyss Adventure tour and you can book this black water rafting tour here.

The Black Labrinth Tour - Another Glow Worm Tour for Ages 12 and Up

There are other adventure tours available. The Black Labyrinth glow worm tour does not require harnesses and you get to jump off waterfalls and enjoy glow worms floating in the dark. You need be at least 12 years old for this tour and at least 45 kg or 99 lbs.

New Zealand Glow Worm Walking Tours

There is also a walking tour available where you experience the spirituality of the cave with a small group and you walk on suspended walkways above the water channel so you can see more formations that the wet tours don't experience. The max amount of people for the walking tour is 18 people.

There is also the Waitomo Glow Worms Caves which are more widely known. Groups have up to 50 people and these tours are great for families and elderly.

Wheelchair Friendly Glow Worm Cave Tours

If you are looking for a wheelchair or ADA friendly glow worm cave, the Ruakuri Cave is your best bet. The Ruakuri cave is the only wheelchair accessible cave in the southern hemisphere. An adult ticket is about 75 New Zealand Dollars which is about $55 dollars in US currency.

Other Unique New Zealand Adventures You Must Experience

Hobbiton is an amazing experience you should check out when in the area, which is where Lord of the Rings was filmed. Also, check out Kaitiaki and Rotorua white water rafting if you love adventure tours. You go over the world's largest waterfall that commercial rafts can go over.