Glow-Worm Cave & Puketi Kauri Forest
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Port
Waitangi (Bay of Islands), New Zealand
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$169.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Northland is one of the least-traveled areas of New Zealand, and this excursion provides a good overview of the Bay of Islands. Travel by motorcoach on a 30-minute panoramic drive through an interesting mix of farmland dotted with native trees and expansive views.
Your destination is the limestone Kawiti Cavern, which features a glow-worm grotto. The caves, located on private property, are owned by descendants of Maori chieftain Kawiti, who fought the British in 1846. The glow-worm (Arachnocampa luminosa) belongs to the gnat family. Its dazzling bioluminescent larvae form a constellation of lights, and demand complete silence as they will extinguish their lights in self-defense if you should so much as sneeze or cough. With the help of your guide, you will see natural underground caverns and the magnificent, delicate stalactite and stalagmite formations within. A small stream flows through the cave.
Don't miss Kawakawa -- the 'Train Town' of the Bay of Islands, nicknamed for the vintage railway that runs down the middle of its main street. Oddly, this town is most celebrated for its public restrooms, designed by Austrian architect/artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser -- a former local resident. Check out the feted privy and enjoy some free time to explore Kawakawa on your own.
Not far away is the Puketi Forest, which once covered most of the Bay of Islands with massive kauri trees. Now protected in large reserves, these magnificent trees rival California's redwoods in height and girth. A guided walk on a forest boardwalk affords you the opportunity to marvel at these imposing trees. Nearly 50,000 visitors annually use the elevated wooden walkway, which protects the kauris' sensitive feeding roots, yet allows visitors to get up close to the ancient trees of the forest.
Your tour concludes with a scenic drive through Kerikeri on your way back to the wharf. With the Bay of Islands behind you, you'll take home a myriad of memories from a great day out.
Notes:
Terrain includes 150 stairs at the Kawiti Glow Worm Caves. There is no elevator. Not advisable for guests with claustrophobia or for those with mobility limitations. Photography is not allowed in the glow-worm cave. Travel time from the wharf to the caves is approximately 30 minutes by coach, and from the caves to the forest is about 60 minutes. Please be aware that the order of the tour may vary.