Limestone creek Glow Worm Caves 

  • About 20 minutes drive north east of Apiti, you will come to the entrance to some special limestone and glow worm caves.
  • A 600-meter loop track, including the walk through the caves and a bush walk coming back onto the road, is no longer accessible due to a literal log jam blocking the track. This loop walk is mentioned in the sign below, but only includes the caves. 
  • This area of Manawatu is isolated, and the last few kms drive to the caves, are on the windy, narrow, gravel Limestone Road.
  • These special and unique caves are on private land and protected by QE11 National Trust.
  • Please read the information below, which can also be found at the entrance of the walk that leads to the caves.​
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To enlarge, click on information sign
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New sign at the entrance. Click to enlarge
  • Remember this is a remote wilderness experience area, and not for the unfit or those with disabilties. 
  • The walk from the entrance to just before the stream has been upgraded. There are now steps at the bottom in the clay with a rope to hold onto if required. 
  • Extra yellow-triangle markers have been been put in place for easier identification of the track. When you get to the stream TURN RIGHT UPSTREAM
  • Walk a short distance then go over a bridge sitting over the stream, then continue to follow the yellow markers to the caves. You will need to be prepared to get wet feet. Gumboots are an option. A raincoat is also recommended as there is water constantly dripping into the caves. ​
  • The track & stream, which pass through the caves, involves negotiating slippery logs & boulders in the stream bed.
  • The walk up into native bush is no longer accessible due to a log jam brought down in a winter's flood.
Access to the caves. (See photos below for visual information)
  • ​Travel a few kms north of Apiti
  • Turn right onto Table Flat road, which is partly sealed then leads onto gravel
  • Carry on to a Y junction
  • Via right onto Limestone Road, a narrow, winding gravel road not recommended for large motorhomes
  • Continue for a few kms, then the entrance is on the right. There is parking space a little further up from the entrance.​
The rock formation and colours within the caves are stunning. Moss, fern and lichen are seen growing on the cave walls providing a range of different greens & red. Then there are the golden and silver colours of the walls tinged in places with lilac.
There is a stream running through these almost triangle-shaped caves with water constantly dripping through from the top.
At night glow worms are seen within the caves making a sight to be seen. However, please don't use flashlights if you are thinking of taking photographs at night time.