Story: Glow-worms

Glow-worm grotto, wonder of the world

The glow-worm caves at Waitomo have been widely publicised as one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in the central North Island. In the 1930s the New Zealand Railways Department published this poster of the glow-worm grotto at Waitomo Caves, to promote rail travel as the best way of getting to the caves region.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: NON-ATL-0016

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

George Gibbs, Glow-worms – New Zealand’s glow-worms, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/9734/glow-worm-grotto-wonder-of-the-world (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by George Gibbs, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Jane
14 March 2011

I have been to the Waitomo glow worm caves numerous times now and I never cease to be amazed by the beauty of these caves. Definately a place to go if you are visiting NZ!