November 27: Otago Peninsula to Te Anau and the Gloworm Caves

When we left the Otago Peninsula yesterday we traveled back to Dunedin and then southwest along the southern coast of New Zealand before stopping for the night at the small town of Kaka Point. Our destination today was the town of Te Anau, which not only lies along the shores of New Zealand’s second largest lake, but is also the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Te Anau is also famous for its glowworm caves which we visited this afternoon.

Before leaving Kaka Point, however, we first hiked to the lighthouse at Nugget Point. The morning was a little foggy and drizzly, but the kids were troupers with only a minimal amount of complaining. This short hike was a great chance to stretch our legs before the 3+ hour car ride to Te Anau.

The Māori name for Nugget Point is Tokata, which
means “rocks standing up out of water”

Nugget Point lighthouse in the background

Our tour of the glowworm caves started with a boat ride on Lake Te Anau to the site of the caves. We then took a walkway through a maze of caves containing underground whirlpools, waterfalls and gushing streams before reaching an underground platform where we get on another, smaller boat that would take us through the actual glowworm caves. We had to be very quiet so as not to disturb the worms and photos weren’t permitted. It was a surreal experience: the glowworms shone like small constellations on the cave walls and ceiling. Again, I wish I had actual pictures to share!

Lake Te Anau

Entering the first of the caves

Not a great picture, but it gives you an idea of what
the glowworms looked like

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