Access

From Apiti, follow Oroua Valley Road 4 km then turn right into Table Flat Road. Keep straight ahead after 6 km then fork left into Limestone Road after a further 3 km. Glow Worm Caves are signposted on the right after 2.3 km.

Track

After negotiating a few bends, the magnificent arch appears and invites you to walk through. Once inside, waterfalls tumble from the cleft in the roof and a few feint light shafts penetrate through. This is not enough to dull the glow worms however. At the end of the tunnel is a limestone arch, leading to a wall smothered in delicate ferns and mosses, all dripping silver threads of water.

Although the sign at the beginning says this is a loop track, best of luck if manage to surmount the fallen branches and logs. Return via the same track.

Geology

This remote part of the north-western Ruahine experiences a different geology to the characteristic papa further south. Beds of Waitotaran Limestone mingle with the mudstone and where there’s limestone, there’s caves and where there are caves, live glow worms.