Waipu Caves, 2023

Waipu Caves are a Department of Conservation site wherein, at no cost but getting your feet (or more, depending on water depth) wet, you can see glow worms in their natural habitat, without the drama and production values and costs of the commercial sites. We visited in 2014 and in 2018 and again this year. It's worth the return, especially if you like mucking around in the ick and being illuminated by worms. The water was only ankle deep this year, and we saw rather more glow worms than in the past, a whole Milky Way's worth. Alas, my little camera doesn't do dark very well, especially when the photographer has balance issues in the dark. 

Earlier in the day we were on the Tasman side of the island, sunny warm Bayly's Beach, a favorite, hoping to do some low-tide quad-cycling. Alas, the quads are no longer rented there, nor anywhere else on the beaches we've seen. Not profitable, we were told. Alas. We stopped briefly in Dargaville and decided to cross back to the Pacific coast to do the caves and worms. The island is only 50 or so miles wide at this point. After doing the caves, we spent the night at the Waipu Caves freedom campground.

Vicki exploring

The little creek that runs through the cave

Stalactites, dripping cold slime down the back of
your neck

Glow worms; click to enlarge, stare at the black for seven minutes
to let your eyes acclimate

OK, there are better pix in the 2014 and 2018 posts (and my recipe
for glow worm canapes); and on the web

Off the web

Stalagmites too (equal time)