But two in particular stand out. Depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for when glow worms….

Springbrook Natural Bridge

Just 100 kilometers southwest of Brisbane lies Springbrook Natural Park, an ancient, forested natural area that is home to Australia’s largest glowworm population. While there are plenty of opportunities to spot them flitting about amongst the canopies of lush rainforests, the majority of them reside in million-year-old caves throughout the park. The largest and most visited of these is the Natural Bridge, which sits within a UNESCO Heritage-listed area that is over 180 million years old! You can walk beneath the canopy, marvel at the skylit waterhole, and then head to the caved area, which millions of glowworms call home! You’ll likely see bats there too!

While the cave is free to enter (you don’t need a tour to access it), you can also take a guided twilight tour through the cave to learn more about these bioluminescent creatures. While it’s open all year-round, it’s best to visit during the warmer months and during off-peak periods to see as many glowworms as possible.

What to See Nearby

Springbrook National Park is 2.4 kilometers away. But there are no restaurants nearby, so pack your bag full of food!

Tamborine National Park

Gaze up at one of the largest colonies of glow worms in the world! This hotspot was purpose-built to house the glowworms, so it isn’t naturally occurring. However, that in no way detracts from the breathtaking spectacle that you will see when you step inside. And it also means that it’s only visitable during the day when the tours are run, from 10 am to 4 pm.

As this tour is accessible via a guided tour, it is not free to visit. But proceeds go towards helping protect the glow worms, so your money is well spent! The tour leads you across Cedar Creek, onto an elevated timber walkway, and through a lush rainforest as your guide teaches you about the plant and animal life in the region. Once you enter, you’ll cross through a replica limestone world complete with stalagmites and stalactites. After taking some time to learn about glow worms through an audio-visual presentation, you’ll adjust your eyes to the darkness before entering the magical cave, where you’ll see thousands of glow worms lighting up the cave like stars in a clear night sky.

Check out our Nocturnal Rainforest and Glow Worm Tour that goes through the park here!

What to See Nearby

Located on the grounds of the Cedar Creek Estate Winery on Tamborine Mountain, there are lots of bushwalks, shops, and cafes nearby.