The Waitomo Caves Area is well known for its Blackwater Rafting, and caves. The land in the area is mostly limestone, and when streams cross it, they naturally cut into it. Over time, this cycle creates underground caves of impressive magnitude.
This was a very enjoyable experience, and a must-see in New Zealand. You are suited up with a dry-suit, and an inner tube, and then you walk out to an innocent enough creek, which then runs down into a cave entrance. Then you float through the caves on your innertube. The water is very slow running, so there is nothing strenuous about it. The underground cave network is very impressive, and ranges from crawl-through spaces to cathedral size openness. Once immersed in total silence and darkness, you float along and are revealed the other reason for going on this activity — along the top of the cave walls are thousands of luminescant green dots. These caves are the famous Glow Worm caves! A specific insect is capable of generating a glowing substance (without lighting effects) in order to attract other bugs as food. But the result to us humans is a very cool sight! Collectively, there are enough worms that you are able to derive the cave ceiling contours.
This area is more of an outpost than a small village, so having done the caves, we were then off to Rotorua. This region is home to about 67,000 people, and is known as the Maori Cultural capital. A great deal of Native culture and activities can be found here.
However, before doing anything else, it was time for the one thing I have wanted to do since hearing about it from Tiffany’s 1999/2000 trip… The Zorb! Imagine getting in a big plastic ball, with a bucket’s worth of water, and then rolling down a hill, and there you have it! This was super fun, and I am now a Zorbonaut. [ http://www.zorb.com ]
After tumbling up an appetite, it was time for a dose of culture. The Maori people came to New Zealand in about 1350, and have since been able to retain their culture, stories, and family history. We spent the evening at a Maori performance that showcased territorial greetings, peace declarations, songs and dances, and battle preparations. Afterwards there was a hangi, a traditional meal cooked over hot rocks underground. I don’t think I ever had chicken so tender!
Cost Around New Zealand:
Blackwater Rafting: The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. [ http://www.blackwaterrafting.co.nz/ ], NZ$85 per person.
Maori Evening: NZ$75 per person.
We are now in transit over 700 km to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand (I wrote this up on the bus ride, earlier today). While an 8 hour bus ride would be boring in most places near home, I have spent most of it watching out the window at the impressive scenery. From a lakeside view, to a sandy desert plain, to the sheep-clad hillside scenery that covers most of this North Island, New Zealand thus far has presented an enjoyable backdrop. Much of it actually resembles crosses between our foothills, and the Okanagan.