Te Anau Glowworm Caves, Te Anau

I give this 5 stars because the whole experience is really well done. The boat ride was smooth and informative, the guide we had for our cave tour was confident and friendly. The boat ride is about 30 minutes one way and the glow worm cave tour is about 30 minutes total. A few tips if you're bringing toddlers like we did (a 22 month old and a 3.5 year old): -you may have to carry your little ones for certain parts of the caves such as when you're ducking down where the cave ceiling is low, or when you're going up stairs near the waterfall inside the cave. Our kids were nervous so we carried them the whole time. -if your child gets upset, thankfully the waterfall is so loud throughout the tour that no one else on the tour will hear it. The only time your children will have to be quiet is in the boat when you are looking at the glow worms because you can't hear the waterfall well at that point. -the cave is well lit except for the part when you're in the boat. Then it becomes pitch black and quiet. My 3.5 year old daughter became very scared of the dark but I was able to calm her by holding her. You can decide how your toddlers would do! There is free hot chocolate, tea and coffee after while you listen to a video presentation about the glow worms so our kids enjoyed the hot chocolate.

If I could give it more stars I would. Breathtaking formations in the caves. Well laid out paths. Great guides. The glow worms in the boat is something else. Sitting in silence in pitch black with only the glow of the worms is something we will never forget.