Q&As

This tour departs from Te Anau and unfortunately, transport from Queenstown is not available

Comment by: Everything NZ (Kiani) on 12th Mar 24 at 13:42

The Te Anau Glowworm tour will go ahead in all weather. The only time the trip may get cancelled is due to high river levels inside the caves.

Comment by: Everything New Zealand (Karma) on 27th Jul 23 at 12:45

You don't need to be particularly fit for Te Anau Glow Worm Caves- it's a sightseeing trip so the group moves at a glacial pace and it's not a particularly long walk. There is some uneven terrain and stairs so as long as you were comfortable with that, you'd be absolutely perfect for this tour.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Kiani) on 23rd Apr 22 at 15:03

No, you do not need to be able to swim for the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves, you do not enter the water. You go on a small boat for part of the tour, which is the water is very calm and still.

Comment by: Everything NZ (Kiani) on 9th Apr 22 at 15:38

Te Anau Gowworm Caves is not really wheelchair accessible, there are ramps most of the way in the caves but they may be hard to manoeuvre. There are steps towards the end of the tour and you also climb into a little boat in the dark which is tricky at the best of times.

Comment by: Alicia - Everything Queenstown on 13th Sep 18 at 14:06

Heya, No for the Te Anau Glowworm tour you will meet at the Real Journeys Visitor centre, 72 Lakefront Drive. It is right by the main street of Te Anau. Easy walking distance from most Air bnb's and hotels.

Comment by: Alicia - Everything Queenstown on 13th Apr 18 at 12:36

Heya, It is not advisable to bring children under 5 but they will allow a child who is 4.5 into the caves as long as they can be quiet. The majority of the tour requires silence and it is pitch black mostly. They will ask you to leave with the child if there is too much disruption. So it is down to you as to whether you wish to bring your 4.5 year old along (they will be free as under 5) if you feel that your child will be okay with the tour :)

Comment by: Alicia - Everything Queenstown on 13th Jan 18 at 15:01

Children under the age of 5 travel for free on the Glow Worms tour from Queenstown, however they are not permitted in the actual glow worm caves. There is a cafe on the other side of the lake after the boat ride where you can wait with your infant while your partner visits the caves & you can then swap as the cave tour is always split into two groups.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Callum) on 24th Oct 16 at 16:20

There is no reason why you can't visit the glow worm caves in Te Anau if you are pregnant however if you travel from Queenstown and back it is quite a long day.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Callum) on 28th Jan 16 at 00:37

There is a minimum number required to run the glow worm tour from Queenstown but it always confirms as the coach you get from Queenstown is actually the Milford Sound bus that takes customers to Milford for the nature cruise. You would be on this bus and dropped off in Te Anau for your glow worm tour. You will have several hours free time in Te Anau to look around before your glow worm tour. You will then be dropped back to Queenstown after the tour which is 2 hours from Te Anau.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Callum) on 23rd Jun 15 at 16:51

Hi Lee. The Te Anau Glow Worm caves are actually dark all day long so it doesn't matter what time you do the tour as it will be the same darkness in the caves. The darker the better when it comes to spotting glow worms!!

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Callum) on 30th Aug 14 at 15:19

Hi Bow. You're right, it does seem like a long time considering the length of the Te Anau glow worms tour. The simple answer is that the coach that takes you down to Te Anau from Queenstown and back again is actually the same coach that takes people to Milford Sound so you end up having about 3-4 hours of free time in Te Anau before the glow worms tour commences. After the tour you are brought straight back to Queenstown. If you would prefer not to have all that extra time in Te Anau then you can drive yourself to Te Anau (2 hours from Queenstown).

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Callum) on 27th May 14 at 13:41

Hi Debbie. Unfortunately, the earliest Glow Worm cave tour in Te Anau is 2pm. However if you are in town the night before you might like to consider the 8.15pm tour that operates during the summer months. 

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Callum) on 1st Dec 13 at 12:06

Hi Linda, yes the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves certainly will be operating on Christmas day. Simply make your booking online and we will send you back your e-ticket confirmation.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Belinda) on 1st Dec 12 at 13:46

Hi Jasmine yes, you certainly could get picked up in Te Anau and dropped back in Queenstown for the Glow Worms tour however you would need to pay the full Queenstown price as even though you wouldn't be coming from Queenstown in the morning they would still need to reserve your seat so you can get back in the afternoon. The price from Queenstown is $126 and you would just need to add in the "Additional Information" field that you are wanting to be collected in Te Anau but return to Queenstown.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group on 19th Sep 12 at 12:40

Hi Rebecca,

The Glow Worm Caves in Te-Anau are certainly an option as you can take a day trip down to Te-Anau. It will take around 2 and half hours to get to the Glow Worm Caves. You can hire a car and drive or take a bus to Te-Anau and then be picked up by the team at Glow Worm Caves. Te-Anau is the last township before the famous Milford Sound, it has a beautiful Lake/scenery and a nice place to visit if you have time in your schedule.

Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Nigel) on 22nd Apr 12 at 10:25