But one of the most arresting creatures is Arachnocampa luminosa, or the New Zealand glow ... Waitomo Cave system on New Zealand's North Island, about a 2.5-hour drive south of Auckland.

This world-famous natural wonder, which is situated about 120 miles south of Auckland, features a boat ride through Glowworm Grotto, where thousands of glowworms illuminate the cave ceiling.

Depending on how you plan to travel, it’s not terribly far from Auckland ... the cave is named after. The glowworm is ...

A tourism brochure for New Zealand's Waitomo Caves from 1928 What’s waiting for us within the mysterious depths of a cave? It’s been the stuff of legend and campfire stories for centuries.