From Orewa we followed
Highway 1 south through Auckland towards Hamilton. We criss-crossed the Waikato which is New
Zealand’s longest river. The Waikato
features several hydro electric schemes on its path from volcanic Lake Taupo to
the Tasman Sea.
On route we passed horsepower
activities of different kinds; the drag racing meet at Meremere Raceway and a
Rodeo. North of Hamilton we left Highway
1 and continued to our destination, the small township at Waitomo.
Waitomo Township
Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park
The cave complex at Waitomo inevitably caters for thrill seekers with black water tubing down an
underground river in inflatable rings over waterfalls and all in the dark too. Or there is abseiling into a seemingly
bottomless abyss in total darkness. But
we opted for a guided tour of Ruakuri Cave and the leisurely boat ride through the Glowworm Caves.
The tours of Ruakuri Cave are in small groups and pre-booked. Our
guide was highly enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaging. The 2 hour tour through breathtaking
limestone rock formations much exceeded our expectations.
Ruakuri Cave
The tour of the Glowworm Cave was shorter, less intimate but certainly remarkable. Drifting underneath thousands of glowworms on
the cave roof was like staring up at an unfamiliar night sky in total darkness.
Glowworm Strands in Ruakuri
Other limestone rock
formations in the area include the Natural Bridge just 30 minutes drive from
Waitomo. The bridge itself is the last remaining
part of a cave roof that has otherwise collapsed into the river to form a
gorge.
Under the Natural Bridge
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