Milky Way Glowworm Caves

Kept Secret for a Century, Now Open to the World

Tucked away in rural New Zealand’s Northland region is Waipu Caves Farm Park, a privately owned conservation and recreation park, home  to one of the country’s most extraordinary natural treasures: the Milky Way Glowworm Cave. Hidden from the public for more than 100  years, this pristine limestone cave system opened its doors for the first time in 2023, and has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best  glowworm caves in all of New Zealand.

This is not a mass-tourism operation. It is a family-run, privately managed 320 acre park where the land, the cave, the forest, the river and  the visitor experience are all cared for with the same quiet dedication — a place where you can genuinely feel like you’re stepping into  untouched wilderness, even though everything has been thoughtfully prepared for your enjoyment, for day visitors or campers.

The Milky Way Glowworm Cave: The Jewel of Northland

At the heart of the park lies the Milky Way Glowworm Cave, a richly biodiverse karst limestone cave threaded with clear streams, dripping stalactites, ancient moa bones, and thousands of glowworms shining like stars in the darkness. Guided tours run daily, with two options to  suit every visitor:

• The Shorter Milky Way Tour (60 minutes): A gentle round trip walk of 850m including 125 metres into the cave to the Milky Way Chamber, with around 35 minutes spent among the glowworms. Suitable for all ages — even little ones travel free under 5. Adults $45, kids (5–15) $30.
• The Longer Starburst Tour (90 minutes): Venture deeper — 250 metres in, 1.1 kilometres return — into the breathtaking Starburst  Cathedral, a vast chamber so striking it hosts live music concerts several times a year. Suitable for ages 13 and up. Adults $80, teens (13–15)  $50.

Unlike many cave operators, Waipu Caves Farm Park actively encourages photography, so you can capture and share the magic. Every tour  runs on an easy, formed path — no crawling, no wetsuits, no experience required — while still delivering a genuine, immersive sense of the  underworld. With 12–18 tours a day in peak season. Private tours, group bookings, extended nights tours for photography and even cave  weddings can all be arranged.

The cave’s reputation is spreading internationally too — recent film crews for Das Traumschiff and Cruising with Susan Calman both chose  Waipu Caves Farm Park as a filming location in 2025 and in 2026 children’s TV show Buzz’s Epic Little Adventures.

The Jurassic Walks: Step Back in Time

Beyond the cave, over 200 acres of rich native bush, fern-draped karst outcrops, and clear mountain streams await exploration. The Jurassic Walks is the collective name for the park’s network of tracks, ranging from flat, easy strolls of just a few hundred metres to full-day  adventures of four to six hours linking multiple trails through ancient, otherworldly limestone terrain. Guests staying overnight or booked on  a cave tour get free use of all tracks; day visitors pay a small $5 fee to walk, picnic by the stream, or enjoy the obstacle course and hut building  area which big and small kids really enjoy.

The Jurassic Climbs: Rock Without the Crowds

For climbers, Waipu Caves Farm Park offers something genuinely rare — three limestone crags and numerous boulder fields, all on private  land. Over 75 routes span the full range of ability, from beginner-friendly climbsperfect for kids through to serious technical challenges, with  hangers set for both top-rope and lead climbing, plus several trad options. Bouldering areas, some just steps from the campground, require  no rope skills or equipment, making it an ideal introduction to climbing for families and school groups alike. Climbing costs just $5 per day  visitor (free for campers and cave-tour guests), and full route information is available via The Crag and Climb NZ.

Stay Within Nature

Waipu Caves Farm Park isn’t just a day-trip destination — it’s a place to properly slow down. Three distinct camping areas sit within a valley  of karst limestone and native bush, offering both motorhome/caravan sites and dedicated tent areas, complete with kitchens, hot showers,  and flush toilets. As a dark-skies camp with no TV, and minimal cell coverage, it’s designed for genuine disconnection — swap screens for  stargazing, riverside firepits, and rope swings in the trees. Camping is just $15 per person per night (power sites $18), with under-5s free. Importantly, this is a destination, not a stopover — the park is built for guests who want to properly settle in, explore the cave, walk the  tracks, climb the rocks, and swim in the river, rather than a quick overnight stop en route elsewhere.

Come and Experience It for Yourself

Whether you’re chasing the sparkle of glowworms in an ancient underground cathedral, testing yourself on untouched limestone crags, wandering centuries-old forest trails, or simply falling asleep under a blanket of stars beside a mountain stream, Waipu Caves Farm Park  offers something increasingly rare: an authentic, unhurried connection with nature, cared for by the people who call it home.

Book online or by email and discover Northland’s best-kept secret for yourself.
www.waipucaves.nz | 09 430 2722 | waipucaves@gmail.com