Travel Eye on Waitomo Caves (North Island, New Zealand)

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Overview:

The caves at Waitomo are one of New Zealand's most commanding wonders - a celebration of nature's work over the last one hundred thousand years. In 1880, the discoverers of this 'domain of beauty in forbidding darkness' found hundreds of miles of labyrinthine caves, glow-worms, stalactites and stalagmites, and all manner of limestone crustations - a lost world.

South of Waitomo, Te Kuiti has canoeing, horse-trekking, jet boating and fishing. The Maori leader Te Kooti sought refuge in Te Kuiti and in gratitude erected a magnificent carved meeting house, 'Tokanganui-a-Noho', at the southern entrance to the town.

The region of Waikato is an area of rolling hills worked for dairy and sheep farming, racehorse breeding, and large areas of native bush and distant mountains. In addition to being a small friendly place, it offers an enormous range of attractions, adventures and everlasting memories of a silent world.

Locality:

Waitomo is situated less than 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the south of Hamilton in the Waikato region

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Since 1887 when the Waitomo Glowworm Caves were first explored, people have been attracted to this fascinating network of limestone caves and grottos. The guided tour will take you through stunning underground scenery including the 'Cathedral' with its perfect acoustics.

In Aranui Cave the high chambers, magnificent limestone formations and pale brown, pink and white shades of the huge stalactites are truly spectacular. The experience ends with a boat trip into the 'starry' world of glowworms, where you can marvel at Mother Nature's light display as you glide silently through the glowworm grotto.

The more adventurous may abseil 300 feet (90 meters) into the Lost World or try blackwater tubing through underground streams. Nearby the award-winning Museum of Caves offers information on the facinating geology of this region.