Day 4/ Night 4 at Waitomo Caves

Glow worm caves
see all photos »

Speeding awag from Hamilton we picked up are last family member in Waitomo- Ben. Unfortunately no-one in the group could remember what are last roadtripper looked like...but this proved not to be a problem upon arrival. "Ben" was clearly the only guy sitting in the rain with a massive backpack. So much for "pack light" then. A few quick greetings amd we set out to organise our day... After all it was nearly mid-day and we had yet to find out glow worms.

Starring blankly at the leaflets in the information centre seemed to be getting us no where, but a quick chat to a staff member solved all this, and before we knew it we were happily booked onto a 2pm glow worm extravaganza. Happy beyond belief we wondered back outside into the rain. Ben had a chance encounter with an old school friend (after all the world is tiny!) while we twiddled our thumbs. What to do to entertain ourselves before the glow worms?? Upon going back in the information centre we were directed to a loverley forrest walk...with extra caves included. People were crammed into the car and we set off towards our walk. Ours was the only car in the car park! The walk turned out to be awesome, with the rescent rain turning the plantation into a rain forrest. The trail twisted upwards on platforms looking down over the trees and gorge until suddenly there were flashing lights coming from a black empty opening. After calming ruth down (no aliens wernt coming- it was just tourists leaving a cave) we too ventured down into the darkness leading us into a cave which, with a little extra lava flow, would have been superbed for the middle of mount doom. Unfortunatly no one wished to donate a ring to chuck down into the darkness. A geography lesson of stalactites was also covered in this time. Calcium carbonate and all.

Glow worms- awesome
see all photos »

Finishing our walk, and begining to really bond, Amy's bags were left at her hostel for the night, with comments from ruth such as "im sure you will be fine considering there are no locks on any of the doors". A quick lunch at the local pub consisting of our own squashed sandwiches and chips, while observing the local dog (who informed us his name was rover- it helped that amy spoke "dog") before GLOW WORM time.

Meeting our tour guide- a german who had emmergrated across- we were thrown into a van with around 9 others and were heading towards the caves. On the way we received a quick breakdown of the local area, glow worms, and even had a chance to inrtoduce ourselves, and or any problems we might want to share! Just in case somethign was bothering us...reaching the caves we were kitted up with helmets (see picture) and headed towards the glow worms. It was so black we cudnt see out hands infornt of our faces and a few feet in we cudnt even see the entrance. Head lamps were turned on and...GLOW WORMS. Only a few but already worth the trip. We continued our walk while maddly trying to capture glow womrs on our cameras (no success) before jumping into a boat. Suddenly there were millions of glow worms, all reflected in the water, looking very much like the nights sky.Ruth was overwelmed with happyness. She had finally found her glow worms. Silence desended upon the group as they were pulled up and down the river observing the spectacular sight. Ben slept.

Tongues
see all photos »

Then all too soon it was time to leave, our eyes happily adjusted to the light could not clearly see the entrance, and our hands when infront of our faces. Strange thing the body, Back outside we enjoyed a cup of tea and biscuits which was v.enjoyable. Then off to the next cave which involed seeing the remains of a moa bird, and a singing lesson inside the cathedral cavern. The sound was excellent. Ruth suggested singing silent night which allowed both english and germans to sing a song together. Twinkle twinkle little star was also covered, and cellphone music played.

Floating in the unkown
see all photos »

Dinner was enjoyed at the local pizza parlor,  which was attached to the YHA. We sat outside in the rain...being stuborn, young and english. Then a game of cards in the YHA. At this point Ruth intodruced isish snap to the roadtrip, and soon our table was being given strange looks due to the histerics which were taking place. Short to say the game was a hit and many tears were shead in enjoyment. Then all too soon it was bedtime and the day was over. We crawled to bed and tried to sleep with the day so swiflty over. This would have been made a hell of a lot easier if i hadnt been sleeping to the worst snorer in the history of mankind. I was not impressed, especially when she swore at me the next morning for being noisy as 7.30. Its a youth hostel- rolls eyes