Te Anau

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Te Anau Glowworm Caves
No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Southland

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

7.4
4.6/5
191 reviews
Te Anau Glowworm Caves are located on the western shore of Lake Te Anau in the Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island, a limestone cave system continuously carved by underground streams. In Māori, "Te Ana-au" means "cave of the swirling waters," referring to the dark river that surges through the cave. In 1948, local explorer Lawson Burrows followed clues from ancient Māori legends and spent three years searching caves across the South Island, eventually finding this entrance on the western shore of Lake Te Anau that had previously existed only in legend—when he crawled through a rock crevice and passed through the entrance, the eerie blue glow of countless glowworms deep in the cave came into view. Since then, it has gradually become a favored destination on the shores of Lake Te Anau. The cave is geologically very young, having formed about 12,000 years ago, and is still being shaped by the rushing underground river. To reach the cave, visitors must first take a boat across Lake Te Anau, then cross native bush after arriving on the western shore to enter. The cave tour is divided into two parts, walking and boating: first, bend down to pass through the low rock crevice entrance and walk along the winding limestone passages, where swirling currents and roaring underground waterfalls can be seen along the way; then transfer to a small boat and, pulled along by the guide, glide quietly into the depths of the dark cave. Thousands of New Zealand's unique glowworms inhabit the cave ceiling, emitting pinpricks of blue light like an inverted starry sky. To protect the glowworms and allow eyes to adjust to the darkness, photography and filming are prohibited throughout the cave, and visitors must remain quiet when viewing the glowworms. The temperature inside the cave is low year-round, and the paths are slippery with steps, so extra care should be taken underfoot.Te Anau · 589m from downtown

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Featured Spa & wellness in Te Anau

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New Zealand Queenstown Onsen Hot Pools experience - private or shared tub options available
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From$43.61
Queenstown: Floating Sauna Experience on Lake Whakatipu
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5.0/5
· 24 reviews
Duration: 75 mins
English
Free cancellation
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24 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
From$40.04$42.15

Featured Day tours in Te Anau

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New Zealand Milford Sound / Piopiotahi 1-day tour | Realnz direct booking | available from Queenstown/Te Anau
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4.9/5
· 82 reviews· 1.3k booked
Duration: 10.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
96.3% of travelers recommend
From$147.34
1-day tour to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi with Southern Discoveries in New Zealand [Round-trip from Queenstown/Te Anau]
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From$128.19
New Zealand Milford Sound / Piopiotahi 1-day tour 16-person group + Mercedes travel van + cruise + lunch included
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5.0/5
· 23 reviews· 801 booked
Duration: 12 hrs
English
23 consecutive positive reviews
From$179.53
New Zealand Milford Sound / Piopiotahi 1-day tour GS bus [Queenstown/Te Anau round-trip]
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What travelers say about Te Anau

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Anonymous userOctober 22, 2026
5.0
Exploring the Te Anau Glowworm Caves was a truly unforgettable and educational highlight of our trip. Learning about the geological formation of the cave system—with its roaring underground waterfalls and ancient limestone rock—provided fascinating context before entering the main cavern. Discovering the intricate habitat and life cycle of the unique fungus gnat larvae (Arachnocampa luminosa) made the visit all the more insightful. Gliding quietly through the pitch-black darkness on a small boat while thousands of tiny glowworms illuminated the ceiling like a galaxy was pure magic. The tour was informative, well-guided, and undeniably captivating. Highly recommended for travelers seeking a unique mix of nature, science, and spectacular scenery!

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

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🎀彡🐾May 25, 2020
5.0
The Doubtful Sound in Queenstown is the most magnificent place here. The bay is full of towering mountains, dense vegetation, and a very calm sea. Dolphins and whales often appear, so taking a boat into the customs to watch dolphins and whales is also the best tourist project here. You must come and experience it.

Doubtful Sound / Patea

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旅の径October 11, 2020
4.0
New Zealand has many lakes, most of which are surrounded by mountains, with winding coastlines, clear water and pleasant scenery. They are excellent tourist destinations. Lake Te Anau is the second largest lake in New Zealand and the largest lake in the South Island. Compared with the famous "Two Wakatipu and One Te" (Lake Wakatipu, Lake Wanaka, and Lake Tekapo), the uniqueness and appreciation of the landscape are slightly inferior, and the popularity index is also lower. Because it is located on the main road to Milford Sound, there are endless tourists passing by and staying overnight in the lakeside town. The seaplanes on the lakeside take off and land, and the speedboats on the lake go in and out, which set off the blue sky and white clouds, the lake and the mountains, and have a unique charm.

Lake Te Anau

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王海娃子December 15, 2019
4.0
Unlike the bustling Queenstown Lakes Trail, the Kepler Trail is also a trail in the Te Anau Lakes District, but it is more tranquil and far-reaching. The beautiful lake and mountain scenery, with changing scenery as you walk, is refreshing.

Kepler Track

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YoYo_1I8Q7O5OJuly 6, 2025
5.0
Fiordland National Park hides the wildest beauty of New Zealand! It is located at the southwest end of the South Island, accounting for 1/10 of New Zealand's land area. The densely packed fjords, glacial canyons and pristine rainforests have turned this place into a real-life magical secret land. The most famous one is Milford Sound. The park also has many treasures: for example, Doubtful Sound is more primitive than Milford, and you can see dolphins jumping out of the water when you take a boat. There are also hiking routes in the park, such as the "Milford Trail", which is known as one of the "best hiking routes in the world", and you can encounter glacial lakes and waterfalls along the way. It rains all year round here, and clouds often hang on the mountainside. The waterfalls on the cliffs hang down into the deep blue fjords like silver chains. Seals and seabirds can be seen everywhere, and even the air is fresh with grass and water vapor. If you want to experience the most extreme natural power of New Zealand, you can't go wrong here~

Fiordland National Park

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华籍美娜November 1, 2026
4.0
The only downside was the lack of a sheep shearing show. The BBQ was great, and considering the price included food, it was definitely worth it. Overall, the boat trip was very relaxing, with the boat ride to the BBQ area taking about 40 minutes. It's a good option if you like a more leisurely pace of life, especially on a nice day. The only downside was the lack of a show, which made it a bit boring.

RealNZ | TSS Earnslaw Queenstown Cruise

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Shim_23October 26, 2026
5.0
One of the most unforgettable experiences of our New Zealand trip! 🇳🇿❤️ The moment we sailed through Milford Sound, we were surrounded by towering mountains, beautiful waterfalls, and breathtaking scenery everywhere we looked. It was one of those moments when you just put your phone down for a second and take it all in. Nature is truly amazing, and Milford Sound is even more beautiful in person. Definitely an experience we’ll always remember! ✨⛰️

Milford Sound Scenic Cruises

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YA’s Home 旅遊冒險·愛分享愛生活December 14, 2023
5.0
The camp is small and beautiful, with a game area next to it, and the kitchen and bathroom are close by. There is a super large trampoline that both adults and children love to jump on. There are also other recreational facilities, including slides. It's really nice to have a public kitchen and a social room.

Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park

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Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Te Anau?

Don't miss these attractions in Te Anau: Te Anau Glowworm Caves, Doubtful Sound / Patea, and Lake Te Anau. If you like Culture & history, try New Zealand: Milford Sound / Piopiotahi full-day small group tour (lunch included). If you enjoy Food & drink, try New Zealand Queenstown TSS Earnslaw+ Farm Tour/BBQ Lunch/Dinner.

You can give New Zealand Queenstown TSS Earnslaw+ Farm Tour/BBQ Lunch/Dinner and Stratosfare buffet at Queenstown hilltop view restaurant | Window-side view seats · Includes round-trip cable car [Luge scooter experience can be added] a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include New Zealand Milford Sound / Piopiotahi 1-day tour | Realnz direct booking | available from Queenstown/Te Anau, 1-day tour to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi with Southern Discoveries in New Zealand [Round-trip from Queenstown/Te Anau], and New Zealand Milford Sound / Piopiotahi 1-day tour for 16 people by Mercedes-Benz | Queenstown / small cruise / includes meal. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of November 3, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Te Anau is around USD 115.77 – USD 179.53. Rates vary by duration, group size, transportation, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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