Four Generations, One Cave System, A Whole Lot Of Stories | Waitomo, NZ

Welcome to The Glow Down Diaries your behind-the-scenes pass to life beneath the ferns, inside the caves, and under the glow of thousands of tiny lights.

Here, we share the real stories from our family-run cave tours in Waitomo, New Zealand. From conservation efforts and glowworm facts to muddy boots, family moments, and the occasional dad joke, this is where we keep things real, raw, and a little bit magical.

Whether you're planning a trip, dreaming of adventure, or just curious about what happens when you turn off the torch in a glowworm cave, you're in the right place. Glow on.

Entry 1: Climbing, Conservation & Community: How We’re Giving Back to the Land We Love

Kia ora from Waitomo!

If you’ve ever been on one of our glowworm cave tours, you’ve probably heard us talk (a lot!) about the land we’re lucky enough to call home. But what you might not know is that tucked away in a quiet corner of our farm is a lovely little climbing crag — a real hidden gem.

With the help of the awesome team at the Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust, we decided to open up the crag to the public, free of charge. It’s a place where climbers can connect with the rock, the forest, and the glow of nature all around, on the condition that they treat it with the same care and respect we do.

This year, a few kind-hearted climbers who’ve visited left donations as a way of saying thanks. We were genuinely touched. So we’ve made a promise: every single cent of that support goes right back into protecting this land we share.

First on the list? Predator control.

We’ve always done a bit of pest control around here, but thanks to these donations, we’re now stepping it up. This past weekend, we installed our very first Auto Trap AT220, a clever, low-maintenance, humane trap that helps remove introduced predators like possums and rats. It’s toxin-free, waste-free, and it’s exactly the kind of eco-friendly solution that fits with our kaupapa.

The folks at NZ Auto Traps have a simple but powerful goal:

“Make Predator Free 2050 a reality — because protecting our native bush and birds is worth it.”

We couldn’t agree more.

These traps will give our tūī, pīwakawaka, and other native wildlife a better chance to thrive in the bush around our cave system. We started by trialling one, and its been working a treat! We’re planning to roll out several more around the crag and surrounding forest.

So if you're here for one of our Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours, or just passing through with your climbing gear, know that you’re stepping onto land that’s loved, protected, and shared with care.

Huge thanks again to the Aotearoa Climbing Access Trust, and to everyone who’s supported our little conservation journey so far. We feel incredibly lucky to welcome people like you — adventurers, nature-lovers, and curious wanderers — into this special corner of the world.

Until next time,
The team at Down to Earth – Waitomo Eco Cave Tours