The Glow Worm Experience

One of the best things about living here is that you don’t have to go far to find something remarkable.

You just have to know where to look.

Tucked not far from Te Aka Treehouse Native Forest Retreat is an old piece of West Coast history — the Gows Creek Tunnel. Built during the gold mining days, it’s a reminder of the grit and determination that shaped this region. Moss-covered timber. Damp stone walls. The steady sound of water moving through.

By day, it’s atmospheric.

By night, it becomes something else entirely.

We offer a guided glow worm experience for guests who want to head out for a real adventure. It’s not a theme park attraction. It’s not fenced or floodlit. It’s a proper West Coast wander — torch in hand, boots on, following the track into the bush and down into the rocky stream that flows through the tunnel.

Once you step into the tunnel and switch off your light, your eyes slowly adjust. At first, it’s just blackness and the echo of water. Then, above you, small points of blue begin to appear.

Hundreds of them.

The glow worms cling to the ceiling of the tunnel, tiny bioluminescent larvae lighting up the dark to attract their food. It feels like standing beneath a night sky, your own personal Milky Way.

There’s usually a moment where everyone stops talking. Or you can alternatively yell and scream to make the glow worms shine brighter.

You hear dripping water. Maybe the shuffle of someone adjusting their footing. And above you, this soft constellation, steady and bright. Waterfall flowing in the background with a soft essence of light streaming through.

It’s simple. It’s raw. It’s beautiful.

We guide the experience because the tunnel is a Jimny drive away, can be uneven underfoot, and because it helps to have someone who knows the track and the tides of the place. We keep it small and personal — just our guests, moving through the bush and into the dark.

It’s one of those experiences that stays with people.  You don’t expect to walk through history and end up standing under a living galaxy.

Back at the Treehouse, there’s often a hot shower, maybe a sauna session waiting. The contrast makes it even better — damp tunnel walls and then warm cosy heat.

If you’re staying with us and you’re keen to explore, ask about the glow worm tour to Gows Creek Tunnel. We run it on request and depending on conditions.

Bring a jacket. Wear good shoes.

And be ready to look up.