Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
WAITOMO CAVES
The best way to experience the Waitomo glowworm caves is via black-water rafting.
It's an exhilarating experience and involves getting dressed up in a wetsuit (laughing
at how funny everyone looks is half the fun), choosing an inflatable inner tube to sit
in (another hilarious experience) and travelling through the limestone caves with
two guides, your wits, and the glowworms. It is a real hands-on experience and re-
quires some agility and the guts to jump backwards down some small waterfalls as
you make your way through the tunnels. You finish off the trip quietly drifting
through the caves in your tube, looking at the glowworms with your head lamp
turned off.
Dr Farah Rangikoepa Palmer, former captain of the Black Ferns (NZ's women's
rugby team)
Activities
Underground
Legendary Black Water
Rafting Company
CAVING, ADVENTURE TOUR
( 0800 782 5874;
www.waitomo.com
;
585 Waitomo Caves Rd; Black Labyrinth tour 9am,
10.30am, noon, 1.30pm & 3pm, Black Abyss tour 9am & 2pm, Black Odyssey tour 10am & 2.30pm)
The Black Labyrinth tour (three hours, $125) involves floating in a wetsuit on an inner
tube down a river that flows through Ruakuri Cave. The highlight is leaping off a small
waterfall and then floating through a long, glowworm-covered passage. The trip ends with
showers, soup and bagels in the cafe. The more adventurous Black Abyss tour (five hours,
$225) includes a 35m abseil into Ruakuri Cave, a flying fox and more glowworms and
tubing.
Recently launched, the Black Odyssey tour (four hours, $175) is a challenging dry cav-
ing adventure including flying foxes and negotiating high wires. Minimum ages apply for
all tours, and there are 10% discounts if you prebook online.
Spellbound
CAVING, GUIDED TOUR
OFFLINE MAP
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