Te Anau - Fiordland
The excursion begins with a cruise across spectacular Lake Te Anau to a remote section of the lake with the entrance to the caves hidden by a large and beautiful native forest. By geological standards the caves are young (12,000 years) and are still being carved by the river that flows through them. The system is a twisting network of limestone passages filled with beautifully sculpted rock, underground waterfalls complete with whirlpools. The quite top section of the system houses a series of small lakes, here you will be taken by small boat pulled along by rope into a silent hidden grotto’s inhabited by thousands of small glow-worms. In the subterranean darkness, they produce a magical display almost like you are staring up at the Milky Way that is nothing short of extraordinary.
The other advantage for viewing these particular caves is the nice little cruise across the lake needed to get to the Te Anau Caves and is part and parcel of the whole experience. This cruise's onboard commentary brings you nicely up to date with the area's historical and cultural importance, while giving one the opportunity to stop and view a few of the many islands scattered on the lake.
NOTE: The Te Anau Glowworm Caves are the only decent cave's within a driving radius of 8 hours - the closest being North of Fox and Franz Glaciers on the South Islands West Coast.
