Rotorua to Waitomo and back to Auckland

Sheep and MORE sheep!
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Today we leave Rotorua crossing the heavily forested Mamaku Ranges, through the Fitzgerald Glade and a coffee stop at Lake Karapiro.

We catch a view of the Hydrodam and the Waikato river, the longest river in NZ at 263 miles long. There are 8 hydrodams in NZ and 2 Geothermal (hydrothermal) power plants.

Gliding through the water in absolute silence and seeing the myriad of tiny gloworm lights glittering, glimmering and reflecting off the water was a magical experience.

Dairy farms!
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At Waitomo, we visit the Waitomo Caves, first discovered in the 1800's. In the caves, we discover fascinating limestone formations and yet another way to remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites...."tites" (tights) come down and "mites" might reach the ceiling.

When we reach the "Cathedral" we sing "Amazing Grace" and if I say so myself....we sound pretty amazing!!  The acoustics are outstanding !

Then we board a small boat in complete darkness and silence for a ride throughout the cave to see the "Glowworms."

Incredible flowers..to be identified later..
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"Arachnocampa Luminosa" is a glowworm unique to New Zealand. It is the larval state of a 2 -winged insect that emits a glow of light to attract food.

The glowworm begins life as an egg, then larva -3-5 mm long .33mm in diameter. This is the longest stage lasting 8-9 months. It is the only feeding stage. It's nest is a series of tubular threads like fishing line that stretch 3-30cm. The larva suspends using additional silken threads with drops of mucus. It preys on midges in the cave.

Waikato Farming land
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The glow is from a chemical oxidation process from digestive waste+enzymes+ADP+oxygen.

The glowworm  rests as a pupa and finally emerges as an adult with no mouth. Their purpose is to mate, lay eggs and then die.

Gliding through the water in absolute silence and seeing the myriad of tiny glowworm lights glittering, glimmering and reflecting off the water was a magical experience.

Lunch was a quick stop in Otorohanga with pictures by the Kiwi statues and then a continued ride through the lush Waikato farmlands and dairy cattle and back to Auckland.

Hugging the Kiwi!
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We see a primary school along the way, but unfortunately, we could not schedule a school visit in NZ since they were on a holiday break. Schools here begin in Feb and have 4 10-week sessions.

Due to a 3:30am wake-up call for an early flight to Brisbane, Australia, we make a early evening with dinner at the Jett Inn hotel and bed!