Baby Glowworms - "an explosion of light"

20th December 2010

After a particularly dry spring, the glowworms in Te Anau Glowworm Caves have multiplied in large numbers.    “There are heaps of baby glowworms in the caves – it’s just an explosion of light, the caves are looking really amazing,” said Justin Remnant,  senior guide for Real Journeys, which runs cruises to see the Glowworm Caves.

The cave ceilings look as if they are covered in super novas as the worms hatch and disperse from the egg clusters.

Guides in Te Anau are particularly thrilled, because the heavy rain in April wiped out a large number of glowworms when it flooded the caves.

 “Right now, the glowworms are so bright you can see the faces of people sitting in the boats looking up at them, everyone’s just loving it,”said Mr Remnant.

The timing could not be better for visitors heading to Te Anau over the holiday period.

People hoping to view the baby glowworms will have to do it in the next two or three weeks.  As the tiny glowworms get bigger, the strongest of the bunch will eat its neighbours to make a two to three centimetre territory of space around them.

“They’re still going to be impressive even after that, because there are just so many,” said Mr Remnant.

Trips to see the Te Anau Glowworm caves will be running in Te Anau between 2pm and 8pm right through the holiday season, (including Christmas day).

For more information please contact:  

Neil Collinson
Te Anau Area Manager
Ph:  (03) 249 8646
Email:  ncollinson@realjourneys.co.nz

or

Tsehai Tiffin
Communications Manager
Ph: (03) 442 4830 or 021 523 899
Email:  ttiffin@realjourneys.co.nz