Redwoods Treewalk® - Four unforgettable ways to experience Rotorua’s iconic Redwoods. 
Experience the Magic of Redwoods Glowworms
See thousands of real glowworms up close
Step inside a purpose-built eco-cave and experience one of nature’s most extraordinary light displays, just steps from the Redwoods Treewalk.
Get closer to thousands of real glowworms as your guide reveals the fascinating world behind their blue-green glow.
Redwoods Glowworms at a glance
10–15 minutes
Fully guided experience
Thousands of real glowworms
See them up close
Day or night
See the glow at any time
Purpose-built eco-cave
Explore 70 metres of glowworm habitat
Wheelchair and stroller accessible
Designed for easy access
Flash-free photos welcome
Capture your experience
Closer than ever before
Walk through a living glowworm habitat and see thousands of tiny lights shimmering above you.
Unlike experiences that can only be enjoyed after dark or from a distance, Redwoods Glowworms brings you face to face with these remarkable creatures at any time of day.
Along the way, your guide will share the surprising story of how glowworms live, hunt and create their unmistakable blue-green light.
What is it like inside the Redwoods Glowworms cave?
The Redwoods Glowworms eco-cave is dark and highly humid, creating the conditions the glowworms need to thrive. Occasional water droplets from the ceiling are a normal part of the experience, so some guests prefer to wear a hood or hat.
The entry tunnel is dimly lit to give your eyes time to adjust before you reach the main glowworm habitat. By the time you step into the glow, it can feel like entering another world.
Your Redwoods Glowworms Journey
1. Choose your ticket
Experience Redwoods Glowworms on its own, or add it to your Redwoods Treewalk or Nightlights ticket at a discounted price. Book Redwoods Altitude and Glowworms is already included!
2. Join the next available tour
Glowworms tickets are flexible and are not booked for a specific tour time. Simply head to the entrance, just steps from the Treewalk, and join the queue when you’re ready for your experience.
During busy periods, you may need to wait before your experience begins. Queue time is separate from the 10–15 minute experience duration and varies with demand.
3. Discover the glowworm life cycle
Begin inside the entry tunnel, where a projected animation introduces you to the remarkable life cycle of the New Zealand glowworm.
As you spend a few minutes discovering the different stages of its life, your eyes gradually adjust to the darkness, preparing you to see more of the glow ahead.
4. Step into the glow
Your guide will lead you deeper into the eco-cave, where thousands of real glowworms illuminate the habitat around you.
The full guided experience takes approximately 10–15 minutes, from your introduction at the entrance to the moment you step back outside.
Choose your Redwoods Glowworms ticket
Glowworms only
Experience Redwoods Glowworms as a standalone visit.
Adult (16+ years): $29
Child (5–15 years): $15
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children): $55
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): $75
Children under 5: Free
Add-On Glowworms to Treewalk or Nightlights
Already planning to experience Redwoods Treewalk or Nightlights ? Add Glowworms to your ticket at a special add-on price.
Adult (16+ years): $15
Child (5–15 years): $7.50
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children): $35
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): $45
Children under 5: Free
The Ultimate Treewalk Experience
Experience the forest from every perspective with Redwoods Treewalk by day, Nightlights after dark and Redwoods Glowworms.
Adult (16+ years): $85
Child (5–15 years): $52.50
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children): $184
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): $255
Children under 5: Free
A living experiment in glowworm science
Creating a home for glowworms is far more complicated than making somewhere dark and damp.
Glowworms are extraordinarily sensitive to the world around them. The material they live on, the moisture it holds, airflow, temperature, humidity, light and even the angle of a surface can all influence whether a colony survives and thrives.
That challenge is what inspired Expedition Earth explorers Bridget Thackwray and Topher Richwhite to establish The Glowworm Project. Since 2020, the project has researched the glowworm life cycle and the precise environmental conditions these remarkable creatures depend on, testing different materials and approaches to recreate a habitat that works.
Redwoods Glowworms brings years of that research and experimentation to life inside a 70-metre purpose-built eco-cave. This is not simply a display. It is a living habitat shaped by science, experimentation and continual care.
The wider vision is conservation-focused too: to deepen our understanding of glowworms and the delicate natural environments they depend on, while exploring new ways for people to connect with and care about them.
Ready to see the glow?
See thousands of real glowworms up close in a fully guided experience you can enjoy by day or after dark.
Visiting Treewalk or Nightlights too? Add-On Redwoods Glowworms to your ticket at a discounted price.
-
Did the new Redwoods Altitude experience! Absolutely amazing! Enjoyable! Safe! Adventurous! Sam (our guide) was an wealth of insight, experience & fun! A must do!!!
Scott
Rotorua, New Zealand -
Coolest place ever! We went at dusk so did half of the walk in the day time and the other half in the semi dark when all the night lights were on! Was such a beautiful walk and loved every moment! The staff were super informative and nice. I will definitely be back in the future!
Haytea
Whangarei, New Zealand -
What an asset to Rotorua. The beauty and peaceful feeling when walking around the heights was beautiful. Thank you to our guide Izumi
The Fullers
Tirau, New Zealand -
The Redwood Forest is just stunning... The lights are just incredible and it is such a beautiful thing to be walking so high in the trees. We also went back the next day and walked around the forest - still gorgeous. Would definitely recommend.
Sarah
Hamilton, New Zealand -
This is a highlight in Rotorua. Super friendly and helpful staff. Amazing walk high through the trees. Take the high road if you dare! It's worth it.
Trish
Auckland, New Zealand -
The Redwoods Altitude tree walk is beyond amazing! It was the highlight of our tiki tour of the North Island, and if you’re a wee bit terrified of heights, it was life changing. We felt so safe while being challenged well beyond our comfort zones. The guides are great, very encouraging.
Bethny
Auckland, New Zealand -
"perfection" This experience was a true 10/10 for us. The perspective and views it offers of the grove are spectacular and unique. The actual bridge crossings and zip-lining very quickly went from potential impediments to accentuating the experience. Our guides, Jordan and Nicole, were the absolute best. If you were on the fence, go for this one. It's incredibly clear that the altitude team is there to make sure your experience will be like ours -- spectacularly unforgettable.
Steve
Pennsylvania, USA
