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Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

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Last year, I published my first Bored Panda post about New Zealand’s glowing underworld. Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a new selection of glow worm images that continue to showcase the magical mountain caves hidden beneath New Zealand.

Once again, I donned my wetsuit and set off in search of something truly unique. Having previously only explored the one bioluminescent worm cave, I set myself the challenge of exploring as many different caves as I could.

During my nature photography trips, I have explored caves in both New Zealand’s Northland and Waikato regions and have been totally mesmerized by what I have found! From small public accessible caves to huge Department of Conservation permit only caves big enough to fit a cruise ship, it’s been an absolutely incredible experience!

I’ve never experienced anything quite like it and to be honest, it’s difficult to put the feeling into words. Standing alone in total darkness, looking up at these little luminescent creatures is just so surreal and magical. It’s like looking up at a starry night sky.

I used a combination of Nikon equipment including my D850, D810, and various lenses. Shooting glow worms are no easy feat. Photographing them is just like taking photos of the night sky; only the exposure time can be much longer. Depending on how close I was to the glow worms and the amount of them, exposures varied from 30 seconds to 8 minutes. To achieve the shots, some required me to submerge myself and my tripod in freezing cold water, other required hiking, climbing, abseiling, and swimming. Once again, the cool photos were totally worth it! Bring on more glow worm adventures!

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More info: shaunjeffersphotography.com

Spellbound Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Spellbound Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Department of Conservation Permitted Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

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Northland Caves

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Department of Conservation Permitted Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Northland Caves

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Northland Caves

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

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Spellbound Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Waipu Cave, Northland

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Waipu Cave, Northland

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Waipu Cave, Northland

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

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Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

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Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Department of Conservation Permitted Cave, Waitomo

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

Me (Shaun Jeffers)

Glow Worms Turn New Zealand Cave Into Starry Night And I Spent Past Year Photographing It (Part 2)

18Kviews

Shaun Jeffers

Shaun is a British-born Auckland based photographer specialising in commercial tourism. After he graduated in Film & Television Production he pursued a photography career in Liverpool before moving to New Zealand in 2013. He now works with NZ based tourism companies such as Hobbiton Movie Set, Discover Waitomo, Te Puia, Hamilton Waikato and SKYCITY.

Shaun is a British-born Auckland based photographer specialising in commercial tourism. After he graduated in Film & Television Production he pursued a photography career in Liverpool before moving to New Zealand in 2013. He now works with NZ based tourism companies such as Hobbiton Movie Set, Discover Waitomo, Te Puia, Hamilton Waikato and SKYCITY.

What do you think ?

SJ_Panda_love 6 years ago

I very well know these are real and natural. But still I refuse to believe it.

6points

Kipper Mcgee 6 years ago

I know that feeling too well.

5points

Load More Replies...

Nancy E 6 years ago

More dramatic than Christmas lights ... Nature is phenomenal!

5points

Marion Friedl 6 years ago

WOW STUNNING!!! In Germany these insects´re called "Glühwürmchen" (small glowing worms), but for real they´re bugs.... But not many of them left here anymore, when I was a child and went on a kids/teenie vacation from the Catholic Church (I´m Protestant myself, but my friend Sandra´s Catholic and often took me to a kids group meeting for creative works, cooking etc., this is how I came to those vacations too) for a week twice and we had a night wandering both times we saw lots of them, but since then I haven´t seen a single one anymore, that was in the early 80s.... (This is the whole comment I shared the post with)

3points

Dan Carter 6 years ago

They are most definitely NOT Glühwürmchen.

2points

Load More Replies...

tweetybird 6 years ago

This is why I love my country

2points

Nickel.W 6 years ago

I love living in NZ

2points

Tom Rex Jessett 6 years ago

MY MAN

1point

admshoe 6 years ago

Pshhhhhh who needs those beautiful lights I can just duct tape glow sticks to my ceiling.

1point

Abby Loop 6 years ago

I must have been dreaming, these are unbelievably amazing

0points

Sarah Ngakaari Hammond 6 years ago

Thank you once again for promoting my country New Zealand in such a beautiful way! <3

0points

Dnelle1972 6 years ago

I love this. Reminds me of The Fifth Elephant, when Vines was trying to get out out the underground caverns.

0points

Lexy Prevost 6 years ago

They're amazing and I wonder how many are there

0points

Gina Lim 6 years ago

I visited one of these caves in NZ back in the 90s but could'nt see much glow .

0points

Dapur Cep Bobi 6 years ago

need passion and patience to take amazing photos like 'em!

0points

Stephanie Hutner 6 years ago

Now that everyone knows about them, they will be ruined. They'll have tours at night for people to come and see them, and they'll make money off them. Eventually they'll die out because humans are horrible, disgusting, vial creatures who can't leave things the way they are. Watch.

0points

Charlotte Brine 6 years ago

Calm down Debbie Downer

1point

Load More Replies...

Victor Calamity 6 years ago

These pictures alone are amazing...I'll bet in real life, the view is absolutely breathtaking

0points

spirit wolf 6 years ago

The only thing that's missing is professor Dumbledore conjuring up something.

0points

Gaetano Pirulli 6 years ago

Skyrim anyone?

0points

Hari Onago 6 years ago

This is magical. Beautiful pictures.

0points

Marion Friedl 6 years ago

WOW STUNNING!!!

0points

SJ_Panda_love 6 years ago

I very well know these are real and natural. But still I refuse to believe it.

6points

Kipper Mcgee 6 years ago

I know that feeling too well.

5points

Load More Replies...

Nancy E 6 years ago

More dramatic than Christmas lights ... Nature is phenomenal!

5points

Marion Friedl 6 years ago

WOW STUNNING!!! In Germany these insects´re called "Glühwürmchen" (small glowing worms), but for real they´re bugs.... But not many of them left here anymore, when I was a child and went on a kids/teenie vacation from the Catholic Church (I´m Protestant myself, but my friend Sandra´s Catholic and often took me to a kids group meeting for creative works, cooking etc., this is how I came to those vacations too) for a week twice and we had a night wandering both times we saw lots of them, but since then I haven´t seen a single one anymore, that was in the early 80s.... (This is the whole comment I shared the post with)

3points

Dan Carter 6 years ago

They are most definitely NOT Glühwürmchen.

2points

Load More Replies...

tweetybird 6 years ago

This is why I love my country

2points

Nickel.W 6 years ago

I love living in NZ

2points

Tom Rex Jessett 6 years ago

MY MAN

1point

admshoe 6 years ago

Pshhhhhh who needs those beautiful lights I can just duct tape glow sticks to my ceiling.

1point

Abby Loop 6 years ago

I must have been dreaming, these are unbelievably amazing

0points

Sarah Ngakaari Hammond 6 years ago

Thank you once again for promoting my country New Zealand in such a beautiful way! <3

0points

Dnelle1972 6 years ago

I love this. Reminds me of The Fifth Elephant, when Vines was trying to get out out the underground caverns.

0points

Lexy Prevost 6 years ago

They're amazing and I wonder how many are there

0points

Gina Lim 6 years ago

I visited one of these caves in NZ back in the 90s but could'nt see much glow .

0points

Dapur Cep Bobi 6 years ago

need passion and patience to take amazing photos like 'em!

0points

Stephanie Hutner 6 years ago

Now that everyone knows about them, they will be ruined. They'll have tours at night for people to come and see them, and they'll make money off them. Eventually they'll die out because humans are horrible, disgusting, vial creatures who can't leave things the way they are. Watch.

0points

Charlotte Brine 6 years ago

Calm down Debbie Downer

1point

Load More Replies...

Victor Calamity 6 years ago

These pictures alone are amazing...I'll bet in real life, the view is absolutely breathtaking

0points

spirit wolf 6 years ago

The only thing that's missing is professor Dumbledore conjuring up something.

0points

Gaetano Pirulli 6 years ago

Skyrim anyone?

0points

Hari Onago 6 years ago

This is magical. Beautiful pictures.

0points

Marion Friedl 6 years ago

WOW STUNNING!!!

0points

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