After a hectic night of getting to New Zealand, I woke up at a lake and went on a nice walk/run around it. Then I went on my way in search of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. I was still trying to get my bearings and stopped in a couple towns to get wifi but I couldn’t really find any. I decided to just head towards Waitomo which I thought was a town. Turns out its more just a bunch of tourist companies for the activities around the caves. I found an info center and looked at my options. You can walk around them, tube or raft through them. It was really chilly outside so I didn’t really want to do one where you get wet, but the info lady talked me into it. So I went to a company that had a good deal and booked my tour. It was incredible! In my group there were two German girls and two guys from Jackson Hole. The lucky guys were flown out to New Zealand to sing for a wedding. We got all geared up with thick wetsuits, rubber boots, and helmets with headlamps then started our adventure.
The caves were amazing. First you go through a small hole down into the cave. How anyone found this entrance in the first place is beyond me, but I am glad they did. Once we were in the cave our tour guide gave us some info on the “glow worms”. They are actually maggots that glow through bioluminescence. The light is produced when they are digesting and it attracts small insects. When an insect flies close they get caught in sticky lines from the maggot. Pretty fascinating way to catch your food if you ask me. I can see how the insects got lured in…as a collection the glowworms look amazing in the dark caves.
We continued through the caves walking carefully in a small stream trying not to fall on the slippery rocks or hit your head on the ones above. I see why they give you helmets. I definitely nailed my head a few times. There was also a point in the stream where an eel lives. If I remember right, they named her Cecilia. Our guide fed the eel and we saw her come up from the water. Then we did some modified cliff jumping with our tubes in the caves. You put the tube behind you and jump backwards. Super fun also incredibly freezing as the water flows through the neck and sleeves of your wetsuit. Next came my favorite part…floating through the caves without our headlamps on. It was so neat looking up into the caves seeing all the glowworms lit up. It was like you were looking up into a clear sky gazing at a million stars. The whole experience was indescribable. I will try though. Imagine floating in a tube looking up at glowing dots, trying to make constellations out of them and bonus…two really good singers to listen to along the way. Seriously check them out they are called Canyon Kids.
After our tour we headed back to the shop. They gave us showers and soup to warm up which was much needed. I couldn’t move my hands properly for about an hour because they were so cold! This was a great first excursion to do in New Zealand. I met some awesome people I later traveled with on the South Island and took some of my favorite mental pictures. I wish I could have taken my camera with and gotten more to show everyone, but I guess you’ll just have to go to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and see for yourself. More stories from the North and South Islands of New Zealand to come 🙂
The Pathless Atlas 