New Zealand is full of unique nature, and one of our favourites is Waipu Caves, a big feature in a small town that is only two hours north of Auckland. Historically, when people speak of them, they refer to the free-to-enter Waipu Caves on public land managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Today, there is another option.
In reality, several privately owned cave systems run through the area. While we can’t get into most, Waipu Caves Farm began offering what they aptly named the Milky Way Glow Worm Caves tour in February 2023.
We have been through both the public and privately owned Waipu Caves, and let me tell you, the experiences are vastly different. Below, Jeff and I have unravelled the mysteries of each of the Waipu glow worm caves to help you choose the best one for yourself.
Comparing the two Waipu Cave options
Both Waipu Caves feature stalactites, stalagmites, cave weta, fossils, and glow worms. For the most part, that’s where the similarities end.
Here are a quick summary of the two adventures:
Waipu Caves
- Publicly owned
- Access is free. There are no guided tours
- Moderate level of fitness is required, and some caving experience is recommended
- Ground is wet in areas, and you might be walking through water up to your knees in spots.
- Some areas require crouching or maneuvering through, and your clothing will likely get dirty.
- You need to know where to turn off your lights to see glow worms (the third cavern has the best viewing).
- Cave features also include stalactites, stalagmites, and cave weta.
- Bring a good caving torch (flashlight) and extra batteries.
- Check the past week’s weather, especially the current forecast, as the caves flood.
Waipu Caves Farm Park – Milky Way Glow Worm Cave
- Privately owned
- Access by guided tour only
- Walk along a paved path with guard rails that is suitable for most people.
- Feet stay dry and we did not get dirty.
- Educational as well as visual tour
- Contains fabulous examples of glow worms silk threads easily seen up close.
- Stalactites, stalagmites, cave weta, and moa bones are identified by the guide.
- Personal lights are provided for each visitor, plus more powerful spotlights held by our guide.
- Local knowledge adds a safety factor with better knowledge of weather patterns and their effects.
Our visit to the free to enter public Waipu Caves
Our first journey took us to the public Waipu Caves, where armed with our own lights, we waded through water, navigated muddy paths, and embraced the raw beauty of nature on our own terms. It was an exhilarating dive into the wild, with every step promising a new discovery.
Inside the Waipu Caves, we discovered stalagmites, stalactites, glow worms, the bones of small animals (bats, birds, amphibians and reptiles), and fossil invertebrates. We were glad to have sturdy waterproof shoes as there are no paths in the cave, and we found ourselves walking through water, mud, and even some slippery ground.
However, the undeveloped Waipu Caves are not for everyone. You may walk through areas of waist-deep water or pass through tight passages.
At least that’s what my family tells me. I didn’t go beyond my comfort zone. If I had, I would have made it to the third chamber, turned off my light and immediately understood why they are nicknamed the Waipu glow worm caves.
Who should visit the free to enter Waipu Caves?
These caves are ideal for those on a tight budget and those with an adventurous spirit, a moderate level of fitness, and, ideally, some caving experience (recommended).
They are perfect for people who prefer to do it on their own, already understand cave features (as there is no one to point things out for you), have their own sturdy waterproof shoes, and a light source.
As one should never go caving alone, they are best for groups of at least two people.
The Department of Conservation’s official website has more information on Waipu Caves and the surrounding tracks.
Our Milky Way Glow Worm Cave Tour at Waipu Caves Farm Park
Photo supplied by Waipu Caves Farms Park
On our recent visit, we switched gears and explored the Waipu Caves Farm Park, enjoying a private, guided adventure that contrasted sharply with our earlier experience. This time, our path was clearly laid out on paved walkways, making the journey less about the physical challenge and more about leisurely enjoying and learning about the stunning formations and the glow worms. It was nothing short of magical.
In fact, we were captivated even before we arrived at the cave entrance, as the tour began with an interesting 300m guided walk through the forest to the cave entrance. (For those with walking difficulties, there is an option to drive closer to the cave entrance.)
“Nature tourism is about making nature available for people to see.”
~ Ian Fox, owner,
Walking through the cave was easy, and our guide educated us on caves while pointing out impressive stalactites, stalagmites, columns, soda straws, cave weta, and moa bones as we slowly passed.
The glow worms are my highlight. Our intimate encounter allowed us to marvel at their beauty from just an arm’s length away. The proximity was astonishing and made it easier to understand the guide’s description of these delicate creatures.
And if that wasn’t enough, once as far into the cave as we were to go, we all turned off our lights (except for one small one held by our guide and aimed at the rail and floor) and using the handrail, guided ourselves back towards the entrance.
As our eyes continued to adjust to the enveloping darkness, we could see more and more glow worms across the top of the cave, illuminating our path and looking like the Milky Way does across a dark sky.
Who should join a Milky Way Glow Worm Tour?
Everyone. It was fantastic.
It’s ideal for people who prefer a guided tour, for those who don’t want to get wet or dirty, who prefer to have everything supplied, and for those who like to learn something new.
It’s also a safe solution for people travelling alone who want to get into one of the caves.
This is the tour we recommend. Book online at the official website.
Know before visiting either of the Waipu Caves
Photo supplied by Waipu Caves Farm Park
- The caves are about 15ºC all year, so you might want a light jacket.
- You’ll want to wear comfortable walking shoes (waterproof if entering the free caves).
- Always bring a light source with you into a cave (this is provided if you choose the tour)
- Check the weather for rain in the past week or in the current forecast as the caves flood. (Note: this is done for you if you take the tour).
- There is a shower (cold water only) outside the free cave, which is handy. There are toilets at both caves.
Regardless of which amazing cave you choose, you are in for a treat. From the natural beauty of the cave features to the glow worms, Waipu Caves are worth a visit.
Both caves are among the many unique things to do in New Zealand.
If you skipped the tour, didn’t make it far enough into the free cave, or just want more glow worms, don’t miss: Where to See Glow Worms in New Zealand: 18 Glittering Habitats
Other Waipu activities
While many people explore the caves as a day trip from either Auckland or Whangarei, they are missing out on some of the other great things to do in Waipu.
A few of our favourite Waipu activities:
- Waipu Caves Walkway
Outside the free caves is a 2-kilometre hiking track on the hillside taking you past huge weathered boulders and up to a ridgeline offering panoramic views across Whangarei Harbour. The karst landscape is magnificent, although prone to sinkholes. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top, stop, and enjoy the view, and return on the same trail. - Waipu Museum
Discover the region’s Scottish migration history at the Waipu Museum. - Coastal Walkway
Hike along the Waipu Coastal Walkway (starting at either Waipu Cove Beach or Langs Beach) and discover the Pancake Rocks. - Beaches
Head to the stunning white sand beaches of either Uretiti or Waipu Cove. Here you can relax on the sand, play in the waves, swim, take a surf lesson, or even enjoy up to a 40% discount on a horse trek.
More for your North Island adventure . . .
Which of the Waipu Caves will you explore?
Disclaimer: We are frequently provided with complimentary entrances, tours, or sample items to aid in the writing of Albom Adventures. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly our own.
Josy A
It makes sense they’d be quite contrasting experiences, otherwise everyone would just visit the free version eh!? I like the sound of both. We did a tour of the Te Anau caves… and it would have been cool to have an option without so many people BUT it is nice to see them in a safe way!
Robin
Love the pictures! Looks like a great place to explore – although my family would probably stick to the guided tour. I don’t think they’d be up for going through waist-deep water like that.
Lucia
Wow, I love the lights by the glow worms in the cave and the pictures you took are beautiful. I’d love to explore here. Great article
Anna
Such a handy comparison! I would love to check both experiences, but if I had to pick one – I´d go for the Milky Way Glow Worm Caves tour! Plus it looks like there are lots of great things to do in Waipu and its surrounding beyond the caves!
Her Asian Adventures
Woow! Those caves look like so much fun! When I finally make it to New Zealand, i would make sure to visit them!
Hege Jacobsen
Such an incredible place! I have visited epic caves in other parts of the world, but never in New Zealand – this one is definitely bucket-list worthy!
Brittney Naylor
Caves have always been so interesting to me. I love how you included so many photos and were able to compare the two caves in Waipu.
Sonia
The caves look like a fun adventure–not sure if I can get the whole family to try it, but I’d enjoy it!
Faith Coates
Another one of a thousand reasons to make it back to New Zealand one of my favourite countries in the world. Not sure about the caving for me personally but my husband is all in lol.
Wednesday Elf
Rhonda, you do find the most interesting places to visit. I don’t do caves (too ‘closed in’ for me), but your photos are fantastic and other members of my family would enjoy Waipu Caves. The beach, however, would be right up my alley. Thanks for another fascinating virtual tour.
Amy Franks
You got some good shots, we found it very hard last time we were there.
Rhonda Albom
I have to credit my equipment. My camera does a great job in low light and the distortion I do get can be removed in Lightroom.
Brandon @ Green Global Travel
Stunning pictures. Waipu Cove seems like a great place to go to have an amazing adventure.
Shere
We heard about the caves when we were in Whangarei, but we didn’t have tims (it was our first night in NZ so we were also very tired)
Margherita @The Crowded Planet
Love this beach, and the shot of your friend doing the hair flip. I can never get it right!
NatureFootstep Photo
that´s a nice cave. Love the green sheet on the stalactites. 🙂
Steve
Nice pictures of the beautiful ocean water!
Steve
Leovi
Beautiful pictures, beautiful lights in this beautiful beach!
Crystal
Sounds like the perfect weekend! Thanks for sharing the #take12trips idea, I think I’ll have to start doing this!
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Waipu Cove looks so beautiful and inviting. My tween and nieces love doing that hair flip thing too in the ocean. They call it their mermaid shots 🙂 This looks like a wonderful way to spend the weekend.
Rachel@safari254
Love the azure blue sea and that hair flick photo is stunning!
Corinne
Rhonda, As I sit inside my house with the freezing weather outside, I just wish I could be camping and beaching with you guys.
I am truly inspired! Thanks, Corinne
budget jan
Love the long hair flip. It is lovely when we find somewhere close that we never knew about. The water was certainly a beautiful colour the day you were there!
Rhonda Albom
I agree. I love finding cool spots not too far away. We were lucky our friends invited us, or we may never have found it.
Annakaisa Lindell
So interesting places to visit! New Zealand offers remarkable natural wonders. Unfortunately, I just happen to live on the other side of the planet which mskes it really hard to visit. But I hope someday 😃
SJ
Just love that photo of the hair flick – I would never be so quick as to catch that!
Stephanie
What great friends! 😉 and love the photo of the long hair flick.
Steve
Wow, looks stunning. I need to start saving and get to New Zealand.
Lyn @thetravellinglindfields
Waipu Cove sounds lovely. We have just arrived home in Sydney from a two week trip to the North Island – New Zealand is a stunning country.
Rhonda Albom
Don’t know if you spent anytime north of Auckland, but there are some fabulous spot. Waipu Cove is just one of them.
Claudya Martinez
I’m fascinated and slightly terrified at the same time. The pictures are great.
Joyce
There is nothing like the beach.
Kate
Wow, your camera did really well with the lot light levels. Beautiful shots!
We’ve been in the Lava caves up in Oregon. Those were amazing.
Su-sieee! Mac
I enjoyed viewing the photos of your cave jaunt. Caves are fun in my book. Hopefully, I’ll get to explore more before I no longer can. 🙂
Take 25 to Hollister
Mama Zen
Beautiful shots!
posh
Wow- that is cool. I’ve never seen a ‘real’ cave like that before!
another jennifer
Gorgeous photos! I love going on adventures like this. Happy WW!
Cathy Kennedy
I would like to visit the inside of these underground caves, if I weren’t such a big scardy Cathy. In Kentucky, north of us is Mammoth State Park, which is home to the largest underground tunnels in the east (I think that’s right, if my memory serves me) and was used by both sides during the Civil War. You have to pay to tour this cavern, but that’s okay because you’d never get me to go inside even if it was free. I hate being confined too enclosed areas even if it’s a large space. Yeah, I’m strange. lol But…you’re experience is way cool and I loved visiting a place that I would never go expect from a safe distance like behind my computer screen. 😀
Nancy
Beautiful images of subjects that can be technically challenging for photographers,
Indrani
Amazing formations inside the caves!
Must be very exciting!
Lisa
We have just put this on our “to do list”. Hubby is a born and bred Aucklander yet doesn’t think he has ever been there so is quite excited about it.
Felicia
they looks fascinating and mysterious.
Sheryl at LibertyHillHouse.com
I LOVE “the light at the end of the tunnel.” What a fantastic photograph.
Joyce
That looks like fun. I would love to go camping with you.
Janie Junebug
I am afraid of caves or other enclosed spaces, but I enjoyed your photos. Caving is not for me.
Love,
Janie
Alissa Apel
Very fun! I love caves!
We went to one in South Dakota. Isaak asked where the opening was? I told him, “Right there!” I pointed at their funky looking trash can. He was 5 then. He was looking in it. I was laughing so hard, and the tour guide had a puzzled look on her face until I told her what I said. She burst out laughing after that.
Theresa
I think a trek through some caves would be so fascinating! And that sounds like an awesome camera having that high of an ISO. I don’t think my Nikon goes anywhere near that!
YAM
Hari OM
I suspect we have similar ‘comfort zones’! Love what you got though… the wonderment of digital is the ability to take stuff that would have been next to impossible on film… YAM xx
Robyn Engel
Looks like quite an adventure. Caves both fascinate and scare me. Glad you braved it so we could all enjoy.
Be well, Rhonda.
Comedy Plus
Caves are fun to visit. I’ve visited many here in our area. Always most interesting.
Have a fabulous day Rhonda. ♥♥♥
Patrick Weseman
Wow, what amazing pics. You always have the best pics and travels.
http://csuhpat1.blogspot.com/2015/02/going-to-travel-like-it-is-1895.html
Angela Thompson
I love caves–and I am actually writing a mini bucket list of caves that I hope to visit someday. These are beautiful!
Rhonda Albom
I am a bit of a wimp in caves. This is only of the second I can remember entering without a guide, and the last one I only took about 10 steps into before turning around. I won’t go through water or anywhere I have to squeeze.
Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk)
Can I confess that I am very very scared of caves. They give me the creeps. I might have watched too much cave horror movies but this one looks open enough for someone like me.
And your camera is amazing! I already am having a hard time taking photos at night but these photos are so good!
Rhonda Albom
It’s open enough in spots, but really tight in other spots – those were the areas I skipped. My camera is a mirrorless, micro 4/3.
Jay @CraftySpices
These caves look so interesting, we love these types of adventure trips. I hope you had a wonderful time and that you are up for a great week.
Nick Wilford
I haven’t been caving for a very long time. I have been in some caves in New Zealand (in a rubber ring through underground streams) but not these ones.
However, stalagmites do not hang from the ceiling. A stalactite has to hold on tight, a stalagmite might reach the ceiling.
Sorry, I couldn’t let it pass! They are great pictures – it looks otherworldly. 🙂
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Beautiful cave. I wouldn’t go beyond my comfort zone either.
stevebethere
That looks fascinating I can imagine it to be quite scary too.
Have a cavetastic week Rhonda 🙂
ladyfi
What a great place!