Adrenaline-pumping fun
PHOTOS
Left: Twinkling glow-worms are a highlight of of the Waitomo caves
by Bobbi-Jo O’Gilvie, USA
Somewhere on almost every checklist of Things to Do in New Zealand you will find an item reading “see the famous glow worm caves in Waitomo.”
I have to admit, dark spaces and bugs of any description have never really been my idea of a good time, but there is definitely something enchanting about the glow worms that light up the caves of Waitomo and whose popularity have helped the caves become one of the most popular attractions in the country.
While there are dry and low-intensity guided walking tours that are suitable for families and older visitors, for any traveller wanting to embrace the true adventure spirit, the tours offered by Waitomo Adventures are the best way to experience the majestic caves.
Waitomo Adventures offers five different tour options (both wet and dry) that provide entirely unique experiences and require different levels of physicality. For those wanting the iconic blackwater rafting thrill ride there is the TumuTumu ToObing trip; a beautiful, scenic tour is that of the St. Benedict’s Caverns, and the ‘Rambos’ among us can opt for the 7-hour Lost World Epic tour, a combination of abseiling, swimming and climbing that will leave you feeling as though you’ve summited Mount Everest and run a marathon in a single day.
For those who want appreciation of the caves, a combination package like the Gruesome Twosome – which includes the Lost World 4-hour tour as well as the Haggas Honkin’ Holes tour – is a perfect fit. For this package, the Indiana Jones in you starts the day by getting a quick introduction to abseiling. With a few basics covered – ‘grab this,’ ‘hold that,’ and ‘whatever you do, don’t let go of that’ – you are well on your way to lowering yourself down the waterfalls of the expansive cave systems of Waitomo. I had a few qualms about lowering myself into a watery abyss at first, but the sharp sense of adventure that you feel the second you are in the caves is enough to motivate your inner whimp to suck it up and see what’s next.
What was next was the great fun of walking, crawling, climbing, and squeezing your way through the caves. By the time you got to the glow worms – described by my guide as ‘cannibalistic shagging maggots with shiny poo’ – you’ve had so much fun that you’ve probably forgotten that they were the reason you crawled into the descent in the first place. Along the way, the guides teach you about the cave formations, their history and you truly get a full appreciation of just how lucky you are to don a wet suit and scramble through them.
Once you’ve dried out and grabbed a snack, the second part of the Gruesome Twosome brings you into the unparalleled arena of the Lost World. I will preface this with one unqualified assertion: heights are not my thing. That said, 20 metres into the 100 metre abseil of the Lost World and I was hooked. There are few adrenaline rushes, that come coupled with an almost unnerving calm, like dangling 100 metres above beautiful vegetation with spellbinding light dancing throughout and having complete control over how fast or slow you descend. With a guide next to you the entire way (and in my case obliging my requests to tell me embarrassing stories to distract me from my nerves), the descent infuses you with the awesome power of your surroundings. Once we hit the bottom I wanted to do it all over again. Lucky for me, the trip had only just begun.
Once you reach the bottom of the Lost World, you begin your (dry) climb back to the top with a few photo ops and a quick snack. Then you’re led through beautiful formations and a fair few climbs that remind you how important it is to stay in shape while you’re on the road. I noticed more glow worms on this tour and we had more time to let our eyes adjust to see them all in the dark, but even without these luminary characters the tour was spectacular.
Between the varied offerings, Waitomo Adventures has something for every part of the backpacker spectrum: leisure- all the way through to thrill-seeker. Do it wet or do it dry, but either way do it. This is one tour that should be at the top of any traveller’s To Do List.
PHOTO: Abseil into a labyrinth of underground caves
FACT FILE
Waitomo Adventures offer a range of 5 options.. from four hour abseil/walk (dry) to four hours of black water rafting or a seven-hour abseil/swim/ raft epic.
• No prior experience required, just moderate fitness (be able to go bush walking for half a day).
• All trips operate daily (except Christmas & New Years days).
• Prices from $160-$435. Note: They offer an “Early Bird” deal where clients can get a rate reduced by a whopping 20%
Freephone 0800 WAITOMO (that’s 0800 924 866).
W: www.waitomo.co.nz
E: bookings@waitomo.co.nz
Accommodation
There are several places to lay your head, from bed and breakfasts to motels, a camping ground and a backpacker hostels. The Waitomo i-Site can make reservations for accommodation and activities.
• Kiwi Paka Waitomo, Waitomo Caves Rd, Waitomo. Ph 07 878 3395
• YHA Waitomo Juno Hall, 600 Caves Rd, Waitomo RD5, Waitomo Caves Phone 07 878 7649
Waitomo i-Site Visitor Information Centre, 21 Waitomo Caves Road, Waitomo Caves
Phone 07 878 7640 Freephone: 800 474 839. Email: waitomo@i-SITE.org
