On the dirt roads leading up to the Glow worm tunnels, Mark pulled over the ute, and told me to hop into the drivers seat. It was time for me to learn manual. I got into second gear without stalling, and weaved my way through the potholes – making sure I splashed in every puddle.

It was a long and bumpy ride, but when we pulled up, we still had a 2km hike ahead of us.

Just as I’d hoped, the entrance to the tunnel lived up to it’s mystical name. Inside, it was damp and very dark, so be sure to wear waterproof, grippy shoes.

When you get inside, know that glow worms don’t like loud noises and will hide away if there’s any light. So don’t be that guy who walks in with a head-torch and shouts to his mates up ahead.

Opt for your iPhone light, and just shine it on the floor to be sure you don’t trip and fall into the water. As you get deeper into the tunnel, turn off the light and wait a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Hopefully you’ll see the glow worms lighting up the tunnel walls.

Unfortunately for us, there were a group of loud talkers trailing behind, potentially scaring the bioluminescent beings.

Once we reached the other side, we waited for the others to pass, and hung back to head in again and see the glow worms at their best.

It didn’t take long before we could see the neon worms glowing on the walls and roof of the damp tunnel. If you really want to see the tunnels in all their glory, you’ve got to go there. Photos won’t do this place justice.

Getting there:

• Camping at Newnes Plateau or in Lithgow Pines is a great way to make this adventure a whole weekend, not just one day.
• Follow along the pot-holed Glow Worm Tunnel road until you reach the parking lot, where you’ll hike 2km to the entrance of the tunnel.