When you were a child, did you ever experience catching glow worms? Hoping they would be your companions like stars forever. Thousands of blue glow worms sparkle with the light of life, embellishing every dark night. Some even call this natural phenomenon the ninth wonder of the world!
When can you see glow worms in Australia?
The best time to observe glow worms in Australia is from October to December. Let’s follow the unique magic of Australia and seize the fleeting moments to go on a magical journey of blue bioluminescent glow worms!
Best places to see glow worms in NSW
Forest of Tranquility
Located about 1 hour north of Sydney, the Forest of Tranquility is a rainforest. Every year, from late November to December, thousands of glow worms gather in the Forest of Tranquility. After 7 PM each night, this rainforest is illuminated by glow worms, creating a fairy-tale world in Australia!
During the glow worm season, the Forest of Tranquility hosts the “Glow Worm Magic” themed event as a unique natural festival in the Australian rainforest conservation area. Online reservations open in October, and booking times may be adjusted based on weather conditions.
In the glow worm season at the “Forest of Tranquility” in Australia, countless semi-transparent threads hang down from the treetops, glowing with the blue-white light of bioluminescent glow worms. Each thread has many droplets, resembling crystal-clear “dream curtains.”
These blue light insects secrete threads with water-like droplets that attract nearby insects. When they collide with the threads, they become immobilised. At this point, glow worm larvae can crawl over and have a feast. The crystal bead curtains under the beautiful fluorescence are actually perilous fishing lines.
The glow worm life cycle in the “Forest of Tranquility” rainforest is only a short year. The larvae emit light and silk, and their fluorescence becomes brighter with age over 6-9 months, transforming into adults. However, adult glow worms have wings but cannot fly and lack mouths, making them unable to feed. After becoming adults, they mate, lay eggs, and fly towards the silk before becoming food for the larvae.
Website: Forest of Tranquility
Old Helensburgh Station
Just a 4-minute walk south from Helensburgh Station. The original train tunnel has been divided into two sections due to new roads. One section of the tunnel entrance is blocked by a fence, and the other is where you can explore the glow worms. This is the headquarters of glow worms – the abandoned tunnel, which is the railway tunnel of Old Helensburgh Station.
When you find the sign below while walking, you’ve reached your destination. The Helesburch sign stands at the entrance of the tunnel, which is like a magical cave hidden in the Wizard of Oz – dark and mysterious, attracting adventurers.
Once inside, rare blue glow worms twinkle in the sky.
By car: Depart from Sydney CBD, a journey of 55km, approximately 1 hour. Set the destination to Helensburch Station in navigation.
By train: If departing from Central, take the South Coast Line to Helensburch Station, about 50 minutes in total.
Note: The tunnel terrain is low, and after rain, it may be submerged, so wear slip-resistant outdoor shoes and a headlamp for safety.
Glow Worm Tunnel Tunnel
The cave for observing glow worms is called the “Glow Worm Tunnel,” and from the name, you can see that it is not a flying insect but a tunnel with glowing larvae. These glowing larvae are actually the larvae of fungus gnats, also known as the blue glow worm.
Located more than 40 kilometers from Lithgow town, it is not suitable for walking, so it is recommended to drive. The cave was originally a 400-meter-long railway track, dismantled around 1940, and the blue glow worms occupied this dark space, thriving and reproducing. Due to the long length of the tunnel and dark lighting, you can observe during the day by entering the depths of the tunnel.
Distance: The location of this cave is just north of Lithgow, take a dirt road for about 45 minutes, and then walk a distance to reach.
Note: The road to Glowworm Tunnel is often muddy and may require crossing precarious bridges, so a good pair of high-top hiking shoes or water-resistant shoes will be useful.
Website: Glow Worm Tunnel – Visit NSW
Best places to see glow worms in VIC
Melba Gully State Park
Melba Gully, known as the jewel of Otway, is located west of Apollo Bay in Lavers Hill. Melba Gully is one of the wettest areas in Victoria, with an annual rainfall of over 2000 millimetres. The dense vegetation forms a small temperate rainforest climate, providing perfect natural conditions for glow worms’ survival in warm summers.
Melba Gully Rainforest has a circular route. After entering on the left side, walk about 5 minutes, and you will see a few glow worm figures. At this time, be sure to turn off the flashlight. Although it may slow you down, after about ten minutes, you can carefully observe the glow worms here. After a while, when you reach Anne’s Cascade, it is the gathering place for a large number of glow worms and the best viewpoint for glow worms.
Distance: 210 kilometres from Melbourne city centre, a three-hour drive. If you think a trip to see glow worms alone is not enough, you can also include the Great Ocean Road in your itinerary.
Note: It is worth reminding everyone that there may be mosquitoes and even leeches here, so wear long sleeves and long pants.
Website: Melba Gully State Park
Best places to see glow worms in QLD
Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves
Located in the Cedar Creek Estate in Tamborine Mountain, the Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves is an artificial cave built specifically for blue glow worms. Here, the humidity inside the cave is artificially maintained, and the preferred foods of mosquitoes and midges are released for the glow worms.
The cave includes two large interconnected caves. The first cave is the “Show Cave,” where you can watch a video of the interesting glow worm cave construction process. Starting from this cave, the guide will lead you through the magical “Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves,” where there are thousands of glow worms!
Address: 104/144 Hartley Rd, North Tamborine QLD 4272, Australia
Website: Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves
Springbrook National Park Natural Bridge
An hour’s drive from the Gold Coast is the Natural Bridge in Springbrook National Park. Due to long-term erosion by the river, a natural cave was formed, and the collapsed cave formed a natural wonder resembling a bridge. In the cool and dark natural arch, tens of thousands of blue glow worms have thrived, creating a grand light and shadow performance.
This famous cave has the largest community of blue glow worms in Australia.
In fact, this rare organism is only found in two countries, Australia and New Zealand. The strange light and scarce numbers make visitors curious about the blue glow worms. Because photography with flashlights is strictly prohibited during the visit, it is difficult to find photos and videos of blue glow worms online, adding to the mystery of these creatures.
Address: Springbrook Rd, Springbrook QLD 4213, Australia
Website: Explore Springbrook
Lamington National Park
If you want to experience a more mysterious glow worm journey, you can choose Lamington National Park, not far from Springbrook Park. Lamington National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed “East Coast Rainforest Conservation Area” and is also the largest national virgin forest park in the Gold Coast region.
Walking on the best hiking trails in Queensland feels like walking on treetops, listening to the singing of birds blending with the gurgling water, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in nature.
Explore Lamington Park at night and feel the awe of blue glow worms in the pristine forest. If the weather is clear, you may even see the Southern Cross.
Address: Binna Burra QLD 4211, Australia
Website: Lamington National Park