Saturday 14th February 2026 - 6pm - 10pm

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Deep inside the Milky Way Glowworm Cave is the Starburst Cathedral, the largest chamber of the cave, filled with delicate crystal formations and thousands of star-like glowworms.  Here the mix of music, the unique acoustics of the cave chamber, the sound of dripping water, the absolutely enchanting beauty of this subterranean world provides you with a magical experience of a lifetime. 

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​The Milky Way Glowworm Cave is a Jewel of Northland.  The privately owned cave was opened for public viewing in early 2023 after being kept secret for over 100 years. The cave required a lot of development over 5 years to make it a walk-in show-cave.  It has rapidly become world famous for its quality of stalactites and glowworms and draws visitors from around the world. It has now been on television in the UK, Germany, and filmed for a NZ television program due for release next year along with YouTubers from Argentina, USA, India, and other countries.  The Starburst Cathedral is the largest chamber, 250m into the Milky Way Glowworm Cave.   This chamber is the most spectacular display of delicate straws and stalactites, 10s and 100s of thousands of years old.  It is an awe inspiring place with wonderful acoustics.

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Artists & Music Genre

The music selection ranges across several easy listening genres of classical, folk, soul, soft rock and country.

There are a range of performers across the night including young rising stars Adara Lunjevich, Kaiser Jacoby, Gabriella Uphof with a classical focus.  The first main performers Pomahaka Tyne (Janet Thomson & Helen Douglas) with a mix of Northumbrian, Scottish and Irish tunes, and folk and contemporary songs from many continents.  Second main performer is Charlotte Rockstar Jones with a reperitoire of classics from Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift.

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Tickets & Pricing

Due to it's location there is limited seating for only 65 people.

The concert is not suitable for children.  It is for age 16 and upwards.

Concert Tickets are $150 each.  This price is due to the unique location and the limited guest numbers. 

Tickets are only sold on our website.  They are not on other ticketing platforms.

Each seat is provided with a fleece blanket to either sit on or wrap over your shoulders.

(Separate to this concert the cave tour into Starburst Cathedral for 1.5 hours is $80 or the shorter tour half way in is $45). 

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Filming Disclosure

The Cave Concerts are professionally filmed for marketing.  As this is a small venue you may end up on film.

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Age Restriction

The concert is not suitable for children.  It is for age 16 and upwards.  If a younger person is in serious training for being a musical performer we will make an exception.  Please email about this.

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Event Start and Finish

You must arrive by 6pm, so you can be guided inside the Milky Way Glowworm Cave to the Starburst Cathedral, 250m inside the cave. This will take time, and there will be a cutoff time for guides to get you into the cave for the last people seating by 6.45pm and the start at 6.55pm.

 

Phones & Photos

There is no cell phone coverage or Wi-Fi underground.  You may take photos (flash turned off) of the cave and glowworms, before or after the concert. 

You are not allowed to take photos or video during the musical part of the event. 

 

Toilets

There are no toilets in the cave.  The toilet is outside the cave which is a 250m walk to get outside plus 50m outside to flushing portaloos.

There are toilets at the office also, which we recommend you use before walking 300m over to the cave entrance.

 

Sensible Clothing & Footwear

The walk to the cave is a gravel path and inside the cave is a concrete path with 30 steeps down into the cave.  You need to wear sensible footwear like sneakers/trainers. DON'T WEAR HIGH HEELS OR PLATFORMS. The cave temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius so you need to wear sensible warm clothing such as a jacket. DON'T WEAR A LIGHT SUMMER DRESS.

 

Food

You should eat dinner before you come.  At our shop/office there is snack food, bags of sweets, chips, chocolate bars, soft drinks.  These you may take into the cave.  Please don't bring other food into the cave.  There will be some light finger food at intermission.

 

Intermission

There will be light finger food snacks and a small non alcoholic drink provided during a 40 minute intermission (this includes time for you to be reseated).

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Your Behaviour

No Smoking, No Vaping, No Alcohol or Intoxicated Behaviour or Disruptive Behaviour.

Doing these things well get you removed from the event. 

 

The Cave Environment & Weather

The event is underground, about 50m vertically and 250m inside the cave.  The stalactites on the cave roof drip very occasionally, some more than others.  It is likely you will get a few drips of water on you.  It is part of the experience.  The cave has a small stream flowing in it.  Normal rain events are not a problem for us, and the event will continue as planned.  This is because we have a flood diverter outside the cave which diverts all storm water away from the cave.  In an extreme rain storm event which last for days we will likely cancel or postpone the event, this is partly due to the stalactites dripping a lot more and the increased sound of waterfalls inside the cave which would reduce the sound quality of the music.

 

Care of the Cave

To help look after the cave it is important that you do not touch the cave walls, formations or glowworms.

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Time & Program - 6pm start.

6:00pm - Guests arrive to the car park at Waipu Caves Farm Park and check in at the office. (Those who have some difficulty walking can park closer to the cave after check in). Guests will be guided in groups of 10-15 people into the Milky Way Glowworm Cave, all the way down to the Starburst Cathedral at 250m inside the cave. On entry into the cave guests are provided a small hand light. 

6:50pm - Once all are seated a welcoming speech by owner, Ian Fox. 

6.55pm - The concert starts with 3 local rising stars, Adara Lunjevich, Kaiser Jacoby and Gabriella Uphof performing classical songs.  

7:10pm - Pomahaka Tyne, duo of Janet Thomson & Helen Douglas with a mix of Northumbrian, Scottish and Irish tunes, and folk and contemporary songs from many continents. 

7:45pm - A 40 minute break for a light finger food snack (provided) in the Milky Way Chamber (half way back to the cave entry point), a toilet stop (outside the cave), and a little time to look around the cave. 

8:25pm - Rising Stars (singers to be confirmed).

8:35pm - The second main performer is Charlotte Rockstar Jones. Second main performer is Charlotte Rockstar Jones with a reperitoire of classics from Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift 

9:10pm - Closing speech and Thanks.

9:25pm - Guests guided out in groups. On exiting guest hold lights low so they can see glowworms all the way out of the Milky Way Glowworm Cave.

10:00pm - Last of the guest should be exiting around 10:00pm.

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More About the Artists

Adara Lunjevich and Kaiser Jacoby.

Adara and Kaiser are both 17-year-old classically trained singers from Waipu. They both have been singing for many years, and they each have a passion for the classical genre. Adara and Kaiser have consistently competed in the NPAC singing competitions where they both have received many placings. They regularly perform locally, most recently being soloist performers at Classics at the Cove.  Both have completed their grade 8 Trinity singing exam, in which they are both eagerly awaiting their results.

Gabriella Uphof has been involved in music from a young age, starting piano at five, singing at eight, and steel pans at eleven. She has accompany choirs in major competitions, including the national Big Sing competition and the World Choir Games. As part of my steel pans journey I travelled to Australia with my band The Panimals, performing internationally.  As a member of Opera North, she continues to perform and be involved in local concerts. 

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Pomahaka-Tyne

Pomahaka-Tyne, a musical duo based in West Auckland, are Janet Thomson and Helen Douglas.  Drawing inspiration for their name from their hometown rivers, Janet (originally from West Otago), plays acoustic guitar and vocals, and Helen from Tyne and Wear, (North East of England), plays Northumbrian Small Pipes and Irish Whistles. 

Together, Helen and Janet perform Northumbrian, Scottish and Irish tunes, and folk and contemporary songs from many continents. 

Janet learned piano from a young age, and taught herself guitar during her university days in Dunedin, during which she penned and performed her first original song.  Songwriting continued after moving to Wellington where she sang and played solo at original music venues and Summertime festival events, and embarked on solo and collaborative recording projects, including a programme of songs and chat for National Radio. 

Helen picked up the pipes from her dad as a young teen. She toured Canada and North America with her pipes in the mid nineties, which introduced her to the wider world of folk music. She then settled in NZ in 2001 to start a family. In 2020 she started to teach herself the Irish whistle. Her collaboration with Janet soon saw her whistle collection increase as the different songs in different keys came along! 

Since Pomahaka-Tyne blended their musicality 3 years ago, they have performed intimate concerts at Hamilton Acoustic Music Club, and the Katikati, East Coast Bays, and the famous Devonport 'Bunker' folk music clubs.  They have represented their local Titirangi Folk Music Club the last few years at the annual Auckland Folk Music Festival.

Janet's beautiful voice combines perfectly with the gentle harmonies of the whistles. The pipes bring in another folky authentic twist to some older songs and tunes from the Northern Hemisphere. They present their music in a warm and friendly bundle and will have the audience relaxed, possibly reminiscing and occasionally tapping their toes. 

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Charlotte Rockstar Jones

A self taught guitarist, singer and songwriter originally from Mid Wales, Charlotte Rockstar Jones is a seasoned professional.  Beginning her musical career 15 years ago in the Bay of Islands, where she resides today, she has travelled the world performing both originals and cover songs.  

With a clear, strong and beautiful tone which compliments her steady strumming style, Charlotte prides herself on the variety of her vast repertoire.  From classics like Neil Diamond and Fleetwood Mac; to the most modern and up-to-date music of Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift.  With a personal love of female divas, Charlotte creates intimate and passionate performances which will suit the immersive and natural ambience of the Starburst Cathedral deep inside the Milky Way Glowworm Cave.

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This page edited by Ian Fox 28th January 2026.​​