Serenepoon's travel blogs:
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Rotorua -> Waitomo Caves -> Auckland
Entry 9 of 14 | show all | print this entry |
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As promised, we dropped by McDonald's for breakfast. If there's enough time, you can choose to visit Agrodome Sheep Show. We didn't and drove straight for 2.5 hrs/ 166 km to reach Waitomo Caves. It's unique underground limestone formations stand as one of New Zealand's most inspiring natural wonders and a must-see destination.
We opted for "Two Cave Combo - Glowworm and Aranui Caves". As the next show is to start at 1.30pm, we sat down for Bread/Pie lunch.
We explored Aranui Cave first. It is named after Ruruku Aranui, the local Maori man who first discovered this previously hidden gem back in 1910. Aranui has a natural cave entrance and is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. As a dry cave without a river running through it, it houses very little life past its entrance. However, just inside the entrance is a colony of native New Zealand cave wetas and further into the cave is the most beautiful collection of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and decorative formations. The richly varied cave formations within close-up view and enjoy an experience we will never forget.
The Waitomo glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as our expert guides provide informative commentary on the Caves' historical and geological significance.
Over your 45 minute guided tour, we took in the spectacular Glowworm Cave with its majestic and ornate cave decorations, the deep limestone shaft known as the Tomo and the equally magnificent Cathedral cavern where New Zealands own opera diva Kiri Te Kanawa once performed. Our tour guide delivered an informative and entertaining commentary, sharing stories, cultural legends and the natural wonders of this living masterpiece. Our visit concludes with a brief, yet remarkably moving, boat trip through the Glowworm Grotto. Flash photography is strictly NOT allowed to protect the precious glowworms.
After 3 hrs tour thru the Caves, we headed towards Auckland.
I sms'ed Housen on our expected arrival time and he gave detailed directions to our accommodation. We finally arrived and checked in. Soon after, Ginnie and Gu-ma came to the reception area to lead us to their warm and beautiful home for a sumptuous dinner, prepared by Chef Housen :)
It has been many years since we all met. It's really good to see everyone looking great. Over dinner, we talked, and talked and talked ....
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