Tiki Touring New Zealand Travel
One Tree Hill in Auckland

Visit Tiki Touring for the best ideas of where to stay and what to do in New Zealand

 
- Visitor Information -
Map of New Zealand
Currency Converter
Car Hire
Distances Between Cities
City & Street Maps
Inter City Coachlines
City-by-city Events
City Hotel Search
City-by-city Hotels
Where to Eat Guide
Latest Tour Deals
NZ Duty Free
- Major NZ Cities -
Auckland
Where to Stay
What to Do
AA Map of Auckland
Street Maps
Transport Journey Planner
(Bus and train timetables)
Inter City Bus Timetables
Climb Auckland Harbour Bridge
Latest Tour Deals
Auckland Airport
Flight information
Wellington
Wellington Suggestions
Wellington Sights & Events
Wellington Hotels
Christchurch
Christchurch Suggestions
Christchurch Sights & Events
Christchurch Hotels
Dunedin
Dunedin Suggestions
Dunedin Hotels
Dunedin Tours
 
- Regions of NZ -
Bay of Plenty
Rotorua Suggestions
Rotorua Sights & Events
Rotorua Hotels
Tauranga Sights and Events
Tauranga Suggestions
Tauranga Hotels
Mt Maunganui Suggestions
Mt Maunganui Hotels
Canterbury
Akaroa Tours
Kaikoura Hotels
Coromandel
Coromandel Suggestions
Coromandel Hotels
Thames Hotels
Hawke's Bay
Hastings Hotels
Hastings Tours
Napier Hotels
Napier Suggestions
Napier Tours
Manawatu
Palmerston North Hotels
Marlborough
Blenheim Hotels
Blenheim Tours
Nelson Hotels
Nelson Tours
Picton Hotels
Picton Tours
North of Auckland
Bay of Islands Ideas
Bay of Islands Hotels
Bay of Islands Tours
Russell Tours
Paihia Tours
Whangarei Hotels
Far North Hotels
Otago
Arrowtown Hotels
Cromwell Hotels
Fox Glacier Hotels
Fox Glacier Tours
Franz Josef Hotels
Franz Josef Tours
Queenstown Suggestions
Queenstown Hotels
Queenstown Tours
Te Anau Hotels
Te Anau Tours
Wanaka Hotels
Wanaka Tours
Poverty Bay
Gisborne Hotels
Taranaki
Taranaki Hotels
Taranaki Suggestions
New Plymouth Hotels
Wanganui Hotels
Taupo/Ruapehu
Taupo Hotels
Taupo Suggestions
Ohakune Hotels
Waikato/Waitomo
Hamilton Hotels
Hamilton Tours
Waikato Suggestions
Waitomo Caves
Waitomo Hotels
Waitomo Tours
Other Links
Travel Links
 
 

Waitomo Caves

Glow Worms, Stalactites and Stalagmites


Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

Waitomo Caves and Rotorua Day Experience
Discover Waitomo Caves
Discover Waitomo Caves from Rotorua

By Richard Moore

WAITOMO CAVES

 

Waitomo CavesFeeling a little adventurous and in need of something special?

Well then the perfect spot for you to visit is Waitomo where you can discover wonderful subterraenean limestone structures and the world-famous Waitomo glow worms.

Now Waitomo is a couple of hours south of Auckland and not far from the quiet town of Te Kuiti - well known for not having a traffic light or cinema.

The adventure begins when you have to head down underground into a cave complex - but don't worry, there is low-level lighting and all but the most claustrophobic tourist will complete the journey with ease.

The caves were discovered more than 100 years ago when a couple of local fellows followed a stream underground. They thought there was something in their find and so explored and mapped it over a number of years.

There are two main caves - the Glow Worm and the Aranui - the latter offers some of the finest limestone rock formations around. The limestone in the caves was formed up to 30 million years ago yet today you can still see formations being created. Drops containing limestone dribble through the cave roof and down the walls leave deposits of limestone crystals that continue to build up as either stalactites (that hang from the ceiling) or stalagmites (that grow from the cave floor).

There are various chambers within the cave system with interesting formations to look at - including an elephant's head - and you can also get to sing in an accoustically pure area known as the Cathedral.

The opera diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa once sang in the Cathedral because the accoustics are so perfect. Guides will ask you to do your bit, but no one stepped forward on our tour.

The highlight of the journey underground has to be visiting the Glow Worm Grotto.

The little brutes don't like a lot of noise so you need to stay pretty quiet so you hop in large boats that get hauled around the underground stream and get to view the spectacular display.

They light up the darkened areas like stars and the boat trip through the cave is like being out in space. It is gob-smacking stuff.

Of course, the romantic image of Glow Worms is somewhat shattered by the excellent guides who take great delight in telling you that they are not worms at all but rather maggots and the lights are their bottoms shining to attract prey. Never mind.

The Waitomo Caves are terrific to visit and the guides take tour parties around every half hour or so.

 

 

Copyright Richard Moore 2009 | Contact Us | Currency Converter | About Us | Privacy Policy |