The Ultimate New Zealand Travel Guide
Blog 24 – Waitomo Caves
We were up early since it was going to be a long drive to Waitomo. Due to wanting to not rush our visit I dedicated today to driving and thus tomorrow we would be settled into the Waitomo Top Ten and would have the whole day to explore.
Off north through the central part of the North Island taking route one to Turangi then route 41 to route 4 picked up at the community of Taumarunui and on to route 3 north and Te Kuiti. Next stop on the left is the road to the Waitomo Caves. The kilometres rushed by as we talked about our trip and its highlights. How lucky we had been in the South Island with every day a day of sunshine.
I had always gone to the Far North in the winter so I had never really had the chance to see the beauty of the South Island and its snow covered mountain peaks. Picture post card stuff. Got some great photos. (check out Facebook. Will be putting more up as soon as I slow down a bit). After Waitomo we head into Auckland to turn in the campervan. Plan to stop by the Clarks Beach Holiday Park so we can clean the old girl up a bit. Tramping in and out with snow covered boots melting away soon had the floor looking rather bad. Tried to keep clean but to no avail.
So as dusk came upon us we found ourselves sitting up camp at the Waitomo Top Ten. As soon as we got squared away I headed for their hot pool to soften up the tight muscles from all that driving. It worked. Slept real well tonight.
Now it was time to become a cave explorer with the help of the professionals of course.
It was a short drive to the main entrance of the caves where we were introduced to everything and were soon caught up in the swirl of activity in preparation of our first cave adventure. Doreen was our guide and quietly with a smile told us of what was about to occur.
There are fifty kilometres of caves that provide an underground world of limestone beauty. We were not going on but a small portion of this on a slow walk with Doreen who pointed out the glow worms and explained what they were. I will wait until you get here so you can be astonished by the information yourself.
It is a 45 minute tour of the Glow Worm Cave with its underground river is the main attraction where we followed Doreen through the cave to board a boat on the underground river where in the dark the cave the world of the glow worm is scattered above you like twinkling stars in the overhead dome of the glow worm grotto. It is a true natural wonder.
I really enjoyed being in the boat silently being pulled by Doreen along an overhead rope and then coming to the dock where we got out and walked along the river out of the cave. A once in a lifetime experience and one everyone of all ages can enjoy.
There are more exciting underground tours such as the 45 minute walking tour of the Aranui Cave with its hollow stalactites which we went on next with Jess Taylor our guide. They have built a winding staircase deep into the cave that alone is awe inspiring. You walk down and down to finally get to the bottom and then go into a tunnel that takes you through the cave. They have built suspended metal walkways through the cave whereby there presence and yours will not harm the caves interior.
The most interesting for me was the story told by Jess. It seems he was a part of the team that built the stairwell and the walkways. The process took over a year and each day they would be below ground. How that got their supplies through a metal tube from top side. They all become acclimated to this world and no one ever lost it or left. I would really like to hear some of the stories they could tell.
So we were privileged to have Jess and our guide as he knew every inch of the place and directed our attention to the Aranui cave story. Thank you Jess.
After all this time underground and wandering around the Waitomo Caves we stopped at the cafe for food and coffee and decided we wouldn't do the Ruakuri Cave. I don't think we were up to it by this time. Will save that for next summer.
The Ruakuri Cave is the one that provides the black water rafting tour. This is a real underground adventure that requires a wetsuit and a caver’s helmet with light and an inner tube to hang on to. One of the adventures takes about three hours where you will float through the pitch black world lit by your helmet light, go over a waterfall, and go though a glow-worm passage. (Now you know why we passed on this one today)
For the true caver and adventurer you are also offered a six hour expedition that along with the black water rafting includes a 30 metre abseiling. Training is provided for the abseiling by the way. I definitely will pass on that one even though both black water rafting experiences end with a hot shower and hot soup.
When we finished our tour Huia the top Maori guide was there and gave us a background of his tribe and the historic connection with the caves plus showed us the totem pole located in the entry way and explained what each symbol meant.
Truly enjoyed his educational help of the area. He also explained the entry way was copied after a Maori eel trap which I found interesting. Great people here that are a part of the land and can make it more interesting so slow down and do not be in a hurry. You will leave the area enriched with the experience.
So it was back to the holiday park to catch up and reflect on the busy day. To me this is one of those must do areas in New Zealand. It is more than just another cave tour and the glow worms are no where else in the world except here in New Zealand.
So the final day has arrived and we take our time going back to the Auckland airport to hand in our campervan. It was like deserting our home. It would be missed as the best travel experience I have had here after all these years. Maybe I can do it again some day. Until our next adventure I will begin putting together all the photos and videos and placing them on my website and Facebook for your enjoyment.
Check them out and let me know what you think and if you plan to come visit be sure to get in touch so I can be of help...............
(maybe to be continued on another adventure)
We were up early since it was going to be a long drive to Waitomo. Due to wanting to not rush our visit I dedicated today to driving and thus tomorrow we would be settled into the Waitomo Top Ten and would have the whole day to explore.
Off north through the central part of the North Island taking route one to Turangi then route 41 to route 4 picked up at the community of Taumarunui and on to route 3 north and Te Kuiti. Next stop on the left is the road to the Waitomo Caves. The kilometres rushed by as we talked about our trip and its highlights. How lucky we had been in the South Island with every day a day of sunshine.
I had always gone to the Far North in the winter so I had never really had the chance to see the beauty of the South Island and its snow covered mountain peaks. Picture post card stuff. Got some great photos. (check out Facebook. Will be putting more up as soon as I slow down a bit). After Waitomo we head into Auckland to turn in the campervan. Plan to stop by the Clarks Beach Holiday Park so we can clean the old girl up a bit. Tramping in and out with snow covered boots melting away soon had the floor looking rather bad. Tried to keep clean but to no avail.
So as dusk came upon us we found ourselves sitting up camp at the Waitomo Top Ten. As soon as we got squared away I headed for their hot pool to soften up the tight muscles from all that driving. It worked. Slept real well tonight.
Now it was time to become a cave explorer with the help of the professionals of course.
It was a short drive to the main entrance of the caves where we were introduced to everything and were soon caught up in the swirl of activity in preparation of our first cave adventure. Doreen was our guide and quietly with a smile told us of what was about to occur.
There are fifty kilometres of caves that provide an underground world of limestone beauty. We were not going on but a small portion of this on a slow walk with Doreen who pointed out the glow worms and explained what they were. I will wait until you get here so you can be astonished by the information yourself.
It is a 45 minute tour of the Glow Worm Cave with its underground river is the main attraction where we followed Doreen through the cave to board a boat on the underground river where in the dark the cave the world of the glow worm is scattered above you like twinkling stars in the overhead dome of the glow worm grotto. It is a true natural wonder.
I really enjoyed being in the boat silently being pulled by Doreen along an overhead rope and then coming to the dock where we got out and walked along the river out of the cave. A once in a lifetime experience and one everyone of all ages can enjoy.
There are more exciting underground tours such as the 45 minute walking tour of the Aranui Cave with its hollow stalactites which we went on next with Jess Taylor our guide. They have built a winding staircase deep into the cave that alone is awe inspiring. You walk down and down to finally get to the bottom and then go into a tunnel that takes you through the cave. They have built suspended metal walkways through the cave whereby there presence and yours will not harm the caves interior.
The most interesting for me was the story told by Jess. It seems he was a part of the team that built the stairwell and the walkways. The process took over a year and each day they would be below ground. How that got their supplies through a metal tube from top side. They all become acclimated to this world and no one ever lost it or left. I would really like to hear some of the stories they could tell.
So we were privileged to have Jess and our guide as he knew every inch of the place and directed our attention to the Aranui cave story. Thank you Jess.
After all this time underground and wandering around the Waitomo Caves we stopped at the cafe for food and coffee and decided we wouldn't do the Ruakuri Cave. I don't think we were up to it by this time. Will save that for next summer.
The Ruakuri Cave is the one that provides the black water rafting tour. This is a real underground adventure that requires a wetsuit and a caver’s helmet with light and an inner tube to hang on to. One of the adventures takes about three hours where you will float through the pitch black world lit by your helmet light, go over a waterfall, and go though a glow-worm passage. (Now you know why we passed on this one today)
For the true caver and adventurer you are also offered a six hour expedition that along with the black water rafting includes a 30 metre abseiling. Training is provided for the abseiling by the way. I definitely will pass on that one even though both black water rafting experiences end with a hot shower and hot soup.
When we finished our tour Huia the top Maori guide was there and gave us a background of his tribe and the historic connection with the caves plus showed us the totem pole located in the entry way and explained what each symbol meant.
Truly enjoyed his educational help of the area. He also explained the entry way was copied after a Maori eel trap which I found interesting. Great people here that are a part of the land and can make it more interesting so slow down and do not be in a hurry. You will leave the area enriched with the experience.
So it was back to the holiday park to catch up and reflect on the busy day. To me this is one of those must do areas in New Zealand. It is more than just another cave tour and the glow worms are no where else in the world except here in New Zealand.
So the final day has arrived and we take our time going back to the Auckland airport to hand in our campervan. It was like deserting our home. It would be missed as the best travel experience I have had here after all these years. Maybe I can do it again some day. Until our next adventure I will begin putting together all the photos and videos and placing them on my website and Facebook for your enjoyment.
Check them out and let me know what you think and if you plan to come visit be sure to get in touch so I can be of help...............
(maybe to be continued on another adventure)
