The Story of Our Glow Worm Sanctuary

Glow Worms are delicate animals which are only found in Australia and New Zealand. Because the Glow Worms are so rare, tourism and deforestation create stress on glow worm populations, particularly in the Gold Coast area. Visiting our site is a sustainable, ethical way to see glow worms while contributing to their ongoing conservation. The Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves and Glow Worm Tour were created in 2005 as the world's first glow worm sanctuary, specifically to address these concerns. As an eco-certified activity, visitors are able to observe glow worms in a safe environment without harming the animals, making Mount Tamborine's Glow Worm Cave one of the most sustainable ways to experience glow worms. Read more facts about Glow Worms.

As the only captive glow worm colony in the world, we take our responsibility to these animals seriously, and our mission is to protect this species and educate the public on the Glow Worm habitat and their importance to the local ecosystem. Learn more about Species Conservation on the Gold Coast.

Breeding for Conservation 

Our cave was created in 2005, for the express purpose of protecting and breeding the local glow worm species, Arachnocampa flava. With a founding population of 300, our team of biologists began caring for the colony which has since grown to over 8,000 glow worms over time. Since rainforest colonies are harder to protect, our glow worms live in a cave built to meet their unique habitat needs resemble their natural environment..

Visiting glow worms at a managed colony allows for up-close, safe interactions with these animals, and helps prevent pollution and damage to wild glow worm sites. By keeping a reserve population of the Arachnocampa flava species, our cave ensures that this species will never face extinction. 

Rebuilding a Rainforest

Glow worms aren't our only focus; our property is home to a reforested wildlife corridor, a stretch of native rainforest planted with the help of Landcare Australia, Land for Wildlife, Scenic Rim Council and local Tamborine Mountain organisations. Our guides help manage our rainforest in order to provide natural habitat to a host of native Australian wildlife, including platypus, squirrel gliders, emerald spotted tree frogs and more! By continually investing in our environment, we hope to ensure the survival of local species for years to come.

One current project is installing a variety of nest boxes for squirrel gliders, as part of the Queensland Glider Network. Glow Worm Cave staff is also working with local environmentalists to install native bee nesting boxes around the property, to provide increased habitat opportunities for these vulnerable species. 

Visitors can explore a portion of our habitat on our boardwalk while learning about the various species who call our estate home.

Research and Education

Our team of guides are committed to educating the public on the importance of conserving wild glow worms and their wild habitat, and through our tours, our team teaches thousands of people every year how to protect glow worm colonies.

Surveys of visitors have indicated that 70% of guests have never seen a glow worm before visiting us, so we are in a unique position to teach visitors how to interact with and live alongside glow worms safely and sustainably through our glow worm sightings in ideal conditions.

Guides have also presented research at local wildlife conservation conferences and workshops, partnering with Wildlife Tourism Australia and Wildlife Queensland to increase academic and tour operator knowledge on glow worm species. If you are interested in working with our team on a research project or educational initiative, please get in touch with us at glowworms@cedarcreekestate.com.au.

Publications and Conferences:

Warne, Geoff (2007). Artificial glow worm caves – taking the pressure off national parks. Paper presented at Wildlife Tourism Australia Workshop- 'Wildlife of the Scenic Rim', Beaudesert, QLD.
Baker, Claire. (2013). Twinkle, Twinkle little fly. Wildlife Australia, 50(1),10.10-13.  ISSN: 0043-5481.
Rowland, Robin, and Bruhn, Julia (2018). Can Glow-worm Ecotourism Lead to Increased Conservation Knowledge and Positive Intentions Towards Glow-worms in the Wild? Paper presented at 5th National Wildlife Tourism Australia Conference 'Wildlife Tourism Values and Challenges: balancing the needs of wildlife, tourists, tour operators and local residents', Cradle Mountain, TAS.
Rowland, Robin (2019). The Success of a Wildlife Corridor on Tamborine Mountain and the Value of Landcare. Paper presented at Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Wildlife Corridors Workshop 2019, Kooralbyn, QLD.

Rowland, Robin (2019). The Scenic Rim and Its Potential Role as an Ethical Wildlife Tourism Destination. Presented at Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland workshop "The Scenic Rim as an Environmentally-Sustainable International Wildlife Destination", Kooralbyn, QLD.

Our Conservation Partners: