New Zealand: Waitomo – Ruakuri Glowworm Caves
New Zealand is famous for its glowworm caves at Waitomo and Ruakuri is the longest cave here. Discovered by Maori around 500 years ago, it holds huge spiritual significance and is an ancient burial site. The tour down starts with an impressive spiral staircase entrance leading to the wonderland of active cave formations – stalactites and stalagmites, straws, shields, and popcorn. But the real attraction here is of course the glowworms – there are multiple passageways where you can see them up on the ceiling and walls and really really up close and personal. The glowworm species here are Arachnocampa luminosa, bioluminescent insects that belong to the fungus gnat family. They spend most of their lives In their larval stage and produce soft blue light through a chemical reaction. The glowworms use their light to attract prey into their sticky silk lines, where they then consume the trapped insects. Occasionally, they eat each other.
