Wai-O-Tapu vs Waitomo Glowworm Caves:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Waitomo Glowworm Caves had more branded searches than Wai-O-Tapu among visitor attractions in New Zealand. Waitomo Glowworm Caves had about 48,000 branded searches, while Wai-O-Tapu had 28,000. Waitomo Glowworm Caves made up 9.6% of all visitor attraction searches we track, and Wai-O-Tapu accounted for 5.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about visitor attractions, Wai-O-Tapu appeared in three of the five answers and Waitomo Glowworm Caves in two. Waitomo Glowworm Caves was mentioned before Wai-O-Tapu in two out of three answers.
Who do people search for more?
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, about 71% more searches than Wai-O-Tapu
Who does AI mention more?
Wai-O-Tapu, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Waitomo Glowworm Caves in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, named ahead of Wai-O-Tapu in 2 of 3 answers
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Top visitor attractions in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Wai-O-Tapu was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the 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. Waitomo Glowworm Caves was listed before Wai-O-Tapu in two out of three 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 Wai-O-Tapu or Waitomo Glowworm Caves more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Wai-O-Tapu 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 Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Wai-O-Tapu. 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 Wai-O-Tapu and Waitomo Glowworm Caves comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves was ahead of Wai-O-Tapu in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Wai-O-Tapu’s share of searches among visitor attractions in New Zealand moved from 7% to 5.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 42K to 28K.
- 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, Wai-O-Tapu overtook Skyline Rotorua to rank 7th among visitor attractions in New Zealand, with 5.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Waitomo Glowworm Caves rose from 6th to 5th among visitor attractions in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
20 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Wai-O-Tapu’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.
Wai-O-Tapu
10 branded search terms
- wai o tapu
- wai o tapu boardwalk
- wai o tapu geyser
- wai o tapu shuttle
- wai o tapu thermal
- wai o tapu tickets
- wai o tapu tour
- waiotapu
- waiotapu loop road
- waiotapu scenic reserve
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- Sky Tower vs Waitomo Glowworm Caves: compare popularity
- Rainbow's End vs Skyline Queenstown: compare popularity
- Rainbow's End vs Kelly Tarlton's: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
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