Sky Tower vs Waitomo Glowworm Caves:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Sky Tower had more branded searches than Waitomo Glowworm Caves among visitor attractions in New Zealand. Sky Tower had about 78,900 branded searches, while Waitomo Glowworm Caves had 48,000. Sky Tower made up 15.8% of all visitor attraction searches we track, and Waitomo Glowworm Caves accounted for 9.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about visitor attractions, Waitomo Glowworm Caves appeared in two of the five answers and Sky Tower in none.
Who do people search for more?
Sky Tower, about 64% more searches than Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Who does AI mention more?
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Sky Tower in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the only one of the two named
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Top visitor attractions in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Waitomo Glowworm Caves was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Sky Tower did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Te Puia4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hobbiton Movie Set3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Wai-O-Tapu3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Waitomo Glowworm Caves2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Skyline Rotorua2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Weta Workshop1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Shotover Jet1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Waitangi Treaty Grounds1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Sky Tower0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Rainbow's End0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about visitor attractions
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which visitor attraction should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best visitor attractions in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best visitor attraction in New Zealand for a day out?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“queenstown attractions”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“rotorua attractions nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Is Sky Tower or Waitomo Glowworm Caves more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Sky Tower and Waitomo Glowworm Caves by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 16 visitor attractions we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Sky Tower, Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Sky Tower | Rainbow's End | Skyline Queenstown | Kelly Tarlton's | Waitomo Glowworm Caves | Hobbiton Movie Set | Wai-O-Tapu | Skyline Rotorua | Weta Workshop | International Antarctic Centre | Shotover Jet | Larnach Castle | Agrodome | Te Puia | Waitangi Treaty Grounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 16.1% | 13.4% | 8.8% | 9.2% | 8.5% | 9% | 7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 17% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 7.3% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9% | 4.2% | 6% | 4% | 3.9% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 16.3% | 11% | 8.9% | 7.6% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 8.6% | 5.9% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 12.7% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 10.5% | 9.5% | 8.1% | 5.6% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 15.6% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 7.3% | 10.1% | 8.6% | 10.1% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 3% |
| Mar 2026 | 14.2% | 7.9% | 9.6% | 8.1% | 11.8% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 14.6% | 12.2% | 10% | 9.3% | 9.5% | 8.6% | 7.7% | 5.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| May 2026 | 16.1% | 10.8% | 9.2% | 11.2% | 8.8% | 9.6% | 6.9% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 15.2% | 12.3% | 9.1% | 11.7% | 10.1% | 9.9% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 14.7% | 14.3% | 8.3% | 10.8% | 9.5% | 8.8% | 4.9% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 6% | 4.2% | 2% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.98% |
| Aug 2026 | 17.4% | 11.3% | 9.5% | 10.7% | 9.2% | 10.2% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.96% |
| Sep 2026 | 15.8% | 12.9% | 10.6% | 10.1% | 9.6% | 9.1% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
How has the Sky Tower and Waitomo Glowworm Caves comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Sky Tower was ahead of Waitomo Glowworm Caves in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sky Tower’s share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand moved from 16.1% to 15.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 96.5K to 78.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Waitomo Glowworm Caves’ share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand moved from 8.5% to 9.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 51.4K to 48K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand visitor attractions in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Sky Tower lost share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand, from 17.4% to 15.8%.
In September 2026, Waitomo Glowworm Caves rose from 6th to 5th among visitor attractions in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
22 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sky Tower’s and Waitomo Glowworm Caves’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Sky Tower
12 branded search terms
- bookme sky tower
- sky tower
- sky tower address
- sky tower bungy
- sky tower hours
- sky tower night
- sky tower tickets
- sky tower tour
- sky tower view
- skytower
- skytower tickets
- the sky tower
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
10 branded search terms
- waitomo caves
- waitomo caves booking
- waitomo caves lost world
- waitomo caves museum
- waitomo caves tickets
- waitomo caves tour
- waitomo caves walk
- waitomo glowworm caves
- waitomo glowworm caves tickets
- waitomo glowworm caves tour
Other head-to-heads among visitor attractions
- Sky Tower vs Rainbow's End: compare popularity
- Sky Tower vs Skyline Queenstown: compare popularity
Sky Tower vs Kelly Tarlton's: compare popularity- Rainbow's End vs Skyline Queenstown: compare popularity
- Rainbow's End vs Kelly Tarlton's: compare popularity
- Rainbow's End vs Waitomo Glowworm Caves: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.