During our family visit to the North Island of New Zealand in August 2016, we visited the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The name Waitomo comes from the Maori words wai meaning water and tomo meaning hole or shaft. I have a bit of a fascination with caves and, as a result, we have visited several other fabulous caves including the Cango Caves in Knysna and Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Mankind in South Africa.
This visit was a unique one for us as the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is famous for its population of Arachnocampa Luminosa, a species of glowworm found exclusively in New Zealand. It was very exciting to enter the cavern known as the glowworm grotto and experience the twinkling glow that emanates from the ceiling when the lighting is off. The glowworms are a species of small, dark flying gnats that glow during the larval and imago (last stage of metamorphosis) stages of their life cycle.
I did find it a bit creepy to be in a dark and damp cave which was completely covered with glowing larvae and luminous pupa, hanging down from the roof of the cave on silken threads. The larvae spin nests out of silk on the ceiling of the cave and then hang down up to seventy threads of silk, each up to thirty or forty centimeters long, from around the nest. The threads thread holds droplets of mucus and are used to catch prey. I am not that keen on walking into web like threads in the dark, I must be honest. I was interested to learn that the larva stage is the longest of the glowworms life cycle, lasting between six and twelve months, depending on the availability of food. Once the adult glowworms emerge from their pupa they don’t feed and only live a few days.
The caves were discovered in the 1800’s by a Maori Chieftan by the name of Tane Tinorau. On 28 December 1887, Tane and his companion, Fred Mace, an English surveyor, explored the cave on a flax raft, using burning torches to light their way. He began offering tours to visitors in 1889. Tane and his wife, Huti, acted as guides to tourists who wanted to visit the glowworm caves.
The cave system also has an exquisite limestone formation which formed when the region was still under the ocean approximately 30 million years ago. The limestone is composed of fossilized coral, seashells, fish skeletons and other small marine organisms that occur on the seabed. Over millions of years the fossilized rocks have layered over each other to form the limestone which is over 200 meters thick in some places in the Waitomo region.
About the author
Robbie Cheadle was born in London in the United Kingdom. Her father died when she was three months old and her mother immigrated to South Africa with her tiny baby girl. Robbie has lived in Johannesburg, George and Cape Town in South Africa and attended fourteen different schools. This gave her lots of opportunities to meet new people and learn lots of social skills as she was frequently “the new girl”.
Robbie is a qualified Chartered Accountant and specialises in corporate finance with a specific interest in listed entities and stock markets. Robbie has written a number of publications on listing equities and debt instruments in Africa and foreign direct investment into Africa.
Robbie is married to Terence Cheadle and they have two lovely boys, Gregory and Michael. Michael (aged 11) is the co-author of the Sir Chocolate series of books and attends school in Johannesburg. Gregory (aged 14) is an avid reader and assists Robbie and Michael with filming and editing their YouTube videos and editing their books.
Find and follow Robbie
Robbie’s Inspiration Blog Goodreads Facebook YouTube
Amazon author page Twitter: @bakeandwrite
Books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle
The Sir Chocolate books are a delightful marriage of story, verse and cookery
… a perfect recipe for sharing with children. Silly Willy goes to Cape Town tells the adventures of two very different brothers…and includes five party cake ideas.
You can purchase the Sir Chocolate books from:
or you can buy them in South Africa directly from the authors by emailing Robbie Cheadle at sirchoc@outlook.com.
Why not be my guest?
If you are a writer, artist or photographer…If you have a poem, story or memoirs to share… If you have a book to promote, a character to introduce, an exhibition or event to publicise… If you have advice for writers, artists or bloggers…
If you would like to be my guest, please read the guidelines and get in touch!
The limestone formations are amazing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Colline, they are incredible and the acoustics in the one cavern are also outstanding. They host choirs there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly a different setting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fascinating place. I bet the boys loved it, especially the glow worms. A great post!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Darlene. We all enjoyed this visit. The sticky webs were a bit creepy but the glimmering glowworms were an unforgettable sight.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I always know I’m in for a treat when I see Robbie featured, Sue. But this was fascinating. Hugs to you both.
LikeLike
Hugs, Teagan 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for this fascinating post, Robbie. The last time I remember being in a cave was on a school geography trip, in Yorkshire many years ago. I remember the limestone coming down from the ceiling and also going up from the floor. We alsso explored the limestone pavements. While geography was never my strong point, I did enjoy exploring the caves. Kevin
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds like Malham, Kevin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I have noted this name, Sue.
LikeLike
I thought to might have 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad you enjoyed this post, Kevin. I have visited caves in South Africa, Italy and New Zealand but never in the UK. I think I need to change that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those caves look amazing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was a great adventure, Ritu, and the boys loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll bet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have had an earworm for the past week of “Glow Little Glow Worm” and it hasn’t gone away until i read this today. Apparently I needed to read this post. Glow little glow worm — glimmer! glimmer!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Marilyn. I didn’t know anything about glowworms until I read James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. This visit was the only time I have ever seen them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have enjoyed this visit, Robbie. The state of Missouri is known for its caves, and has nearly 20 “show caves.” Since moving here in 2012, I’ve visited about a half-dozen of them plus a few that are in state parks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s a link from a state tourism site: https://www.visitmo.com/missouri-travel/missouris-show-caves.aspx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for the link, Ken. We are hoping to visit the US next year and I would love to visit a cave there. I am sure you would have loved these limestone formations; they are spectacular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are some nice caves in Virginia (Luray Caverns) and some grand ones in Kentucky (Mammoth Cave) and New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns), as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love caves too… so thank you for the link, Ken 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know you also like caves, Sue, and interesting rocks too.
LikeLike
Very much. If you get up to Malham, the cove and the limestone pavements above are well worth a visit…and there are White Scar caverns not far from there. There are pics of Malham and the caves here: https://whitescarcave.co.uk/
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would hope they give you something to cover your hair! Very cool, but I don’t think my claustrophobia would be happy in there, lol
LikeLiked by 2 people
They don’t give you anything to cover your hair so it is a bit freaky. It is very hard and humid so you might not like it if you are claustrophobic, Jacquie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fascinating, Robbie, though I don’t fancy walking into the threads either. The limestone looks amazing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think you would enjoy this cave, Mary, and also The Cango Caves in South Africa which are also incredible.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I visited the Belianska Caves in Slovakia which we were spectacular. Don’t know if I’ll ever get to South Africa.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I will just have to write a post about them then, Mary. A literary experience can be nearly as good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
I am visiting Sue Vincent at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo today and sharing my family’s visit to the Waitoma Glowworm Caves in New Zealand. Thank you Sue for hosting us all today, we love visiting your fabulous blog.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this visit with us, Robbie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just fascinating. I would be a little creeped out too, Robbie. But what a thing to experience. And only in one place in the world. That’s amazing. Thanks for sharing, ladies. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nature is really incredible, Diana, with the way certain species adapt to their environments. It was such a unique experience.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Such a cool thing to do.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reading, Craig. It was a fabulous experience.
LikeLiked by 2 people
dare i say that when I went, three years ago with my lad, we took the Abyss tour or something that involved wet suits, abseils, zip-wires, rubber rings and swimming. Frankly the sticky webs were the least of my worries… If you’re at all interested… https://geofflepard.com/2014/12/01/kia-ora-days-five-six-and-seven-burrows-and-caves/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for sharing this like, Geoff. I am going to go over and read this now. I did know there was a wet tour but we did the dry one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I should have realised when going with a 24 year old that abseiling, white water rafting and bungy jumping would be on the agenda… the truth is I never really developed an adult gene and so embrace these challenges despite my better instincts…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing, Michael.
LikeLike
A wonderful story Robbie! Never heared about such a place with glowworms, till today. Fascinating indeed. Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was an interesting read. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for visiting us over here, Tandy. A really fabulous adventure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HI Robbie. A very interesting post. I also find caves fascinating and have visited Cango and Sterkfontein. The Waitoma caves sound brilliant, glow worms are one of my favourite bugs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
These are both amazing caves, Kim. We are fortunate to have some wonderful caves and places of historical interest here in South Africa.
LikeLike
I think this sounds fascinating! Thanks, Robbie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was wonderful, Jennie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Wow! This sounds like an amazing thing to see! I’ll definitely have to try to get there one day!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is really worth a visit. New Zealand is really beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating, Robbie. Nature never ceases to amaze me. Thanks, Robbie and Sue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad you enjoyed this, Olga. You are right, nature is incredible.
LikeLike
Waht a cool place to visit. I’m kind of freaky about caves, but the glow worms are amazing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I must say that I love caves, Mae. I enjoyed the glowworms although I don’t enjoy sticky webs in the dark that much. Happy Easter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Easter, Robbie!
LikeLike
This is fascinating, Robbie! I agree I would find it a little creepy to walk around with these creatures hanging above my head. Ugh! Thanks for sharing this interesting post. Hugs to you and Sue! Xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Janice. A bit creepy but very fascinating.
LikeLiked by 2 people