Hidden beneath the mountains on Lake Te Anau’s western shores is an underground network of caves lit by thousands of glowworms.
Described by the Sydney Morning Herald as “one of the most unusual limestone cave experiences on the planet”, a visit to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves is a must-do for anyone visiting Fiordland.
For many years the Te Anau Glowworm Caves were lost in legend. Their presence was hinted at only by the ancient Maori name for the area - ‘Te Ana-au’ - which means ‘caves with a current of swirling water’.
They remained hidden until their rediscovery by local explorer Lawson Burrows in 1948. Fascinated by the ancient stories, he spent three years searching for the caves before discovering a stream emerging from under a rock structure on Lake Te Anau’s western shores. Burrows squeezed underwater through the entrance and surfaced into a cavern shimmering with thousands of glowworms.
Today we know that these magical caves are the lower section of a much larger cave system which extends deep under Fiordland National Park.
Real Journeys operates daily guided excursions to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.
Activities
Te Anau, Central Te Anau