Posted 28 Jul 2010

There are plenty of spectacular natural sights to take in on gap years in New Zealand and the Waitomo Glowworm Cave is one of them.

Located in the Waikato region of the North Island, it is part of the Waitomo Caves network, which also included Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave.

In an article for CNN’s Mother Nature Network, travel writer Caitie Leary named it as one of the world’s most "jaw-dropping" caves.

"As the name suggests, the cave serves as the home to glowworms, specifically arachnocampa luminosa, which are a type of fungus gnat species that glow in their larval stage," she explained.

"Because it was underwater 30 million years ago, the cave is made from limestone composed of fossilized shells, skeletons and coral."

Travellers can take guided tours of the Waitomo Glowworm Cave, which features a large grotto known as the Cathedral cavern where opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa once performed.

Category: Australasia