Waitomo - Wanganui
Trip Start
Nov 04, 2007
1
18
32
Trip End
Dec 06, 2007
Wanganui,
New Zealand
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Deb got really cranky because their greed outstripped their capacity, and so when it was time to take the boat tour of the glowworms, we were told that you had to be very quiet, because even a whisper would (or could) make the glowworms go out and spoil it for everyone. Apart from the difficulty of getting a three and a two year old to be quiet at all, we were then left by the guide at the dock because the first boat was full - without any warning or explanation of how long it would be. So we are standing there in the dark trying not to 'spoil it' for everyone else when finally another tour arrives. At least ten minutes after the boat left. The first thing the guide says is 'you've been left behind have you?' To which Deb replied, 'yes, and it is a bit hard to keep kids quiet with no explanation for ten minutes in the dark by a river.'
Fonrtunately, our boat returned and we were allowed to enter with some o fthe members of the second tour group and be escorted through the fabulous glowworm cavern. They were quite nice, but I couldn't help but notice that the boat was simply going around in circles - he was only metres away from us the whole time! I really don't want to spoil it for you if you're planning to go, but the glowworm cavern is very brief.
Anyway, amazingly and to their credit, the kids did not utter a word or make any sort of sound at all for the whole boat trip in the dark on the river going around in circles.
So we took them for an ice-cream as a reward.
The rest of the day was spent driving towards Wanganui. Not much to report (sorry towns we stopped at, like: National Park - no supermarket; or Raetihi - barren wasteland of a park for lunch).
Our arrival at Wanganui was marked with excitement. We'd planned on a jetboat tour but they wouldn't take the little ones (or Mckayla at least. A question mark still hangs over Yasmin's head). And we couldn't take the paddle steamer tour because we have to be in Wellington in time to vote. Damn that John Howard with his election calling in the middle of our holiday requiring us to schedule time in a capital city at the right time.
We calmed down enough to enjoy our surroundings and have some spaghetti for tea beside the river.
Comments
Dark caves
We are very proud of the kids for keeping quite in the caves.
Re: Dark caves
Yes indeed. They are good kids.