 |
 Waitomo Caves
WaitomoWaitomo is the home of the magnificent Waitomo Caves. This region is riddled with limestone caves and makes for an interesting and unique destination. Even if you don't want to pay money to go underground there are enough free things here to keep you occupied. And if you are prepared to travel a little further a field there are lots of other cool spots nearby.
Highlights
- Glow worms
- Kiwi House
- Black water rafting
- Lots of caves
Travel times:
It is approximately 2 hours to Waitomo from Auckland.
Don’t forget
To take warm clothes as there isn't much sun in the caves. Oh yes and a torch might be a good idea. Accommodation
There are a number of accommodation options at Waitomo. The Waitomo Kiwi Paka (YHA) is the pick of the backpacker hostels, while the Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park has good cabins, expensive camping, a swimming pool and spa. Alternatively the Hamilton Tomo Group (HTG) has a classic caving hut. While it is pretty busy during weekends (in summer) the rest of the year it is pretty quiet. Non-members are welcome to stay - it costs $12 for the first night and $10 for subsequent nights. This place is certainly not 5 star but if you don't mind roughing it then it is a good option. You might even meet some real cavers! To find the HTG hut head through Waitomo and at the roundabout go straight ahead (towards Marokopa) on Te Anga Road. The HTG is on the left as you wind your way up the hill. Give them a call on (07)8787442 to book a bed.
Food and drink
There is a small shop and café in Waitomo but if you plan on self-catering it is recommended that you bring supplies with you. There are supermarkets in Hamilton and Otorohanga on the way down. Locals complain that the local bar, Curly's, while good, is expensive. We like it and haved played a lot of pool in that place. A drunken walk to/from the HTG is possible, although watch out for the rocks in the middle of the roundabout (cheers Grace).
 Caving Waitomo (Maori for "water shaft") is famous for its amazing limestone caves and in particular its glow worms. There are a number of free and paid activities to keep you occupied and entertained here. There is a wide variety of operators running a host of cave adventures including abseiling, rock climbing, black water rafting, waterfalls and of course glow worms. Dry options are also available and trips can be from 1 hour to a full day adventure. We recommend the Black Water Rafting Company who run excellent trips and cater for all tastes and abilities. - For the adventurous, options include the Black Labyrinth and Black Abyss tours, which involve different combinations of cave scrambling, jumping into the darkness, glow worms, floating on inner tudes, flying foxs and abseiling. Awesome!
- For those who want to stay dry then the Ruakuri Cave trip is fantastic. Here an impressive engineering feat provides access to a beautiful cave.
- Trips leave from the Black Water Café, which provides good food and even free soup and bread if you do one of their trips.
Note: there are lots of other operators so check out their offerings before you commit.
Other options - Everyone should do the free and interesting walk at the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve (drive through Waitomo and then turn left onto Tumutumu Road). Follow the signs to Ruakuri Bushwalk).
- You can also walk from Waitomo to Ruakuri (1 hour 15 minutes). The track leaves from behind the rugby club.
- The Cave Museum is excellent, cheap ($5) and well worth a visit.
- A number of other operators have recently started up some alternative non-cave attractions in the area - check out Woodlyn Park and the Shearing Shed. The latter has some wonderful fluffy Angora rabbits!
If you have a little more time or are travelling South - Heading west from Waitomo there is an amazing drive out to the coast at Marokopa. This is a long trip but would be worth doing as part of a trip south. However if you have time 26km along Te Anga Road is the Mangapohue Natural Bridge (15 minute walk). A bit further down the road is Piripiri Cave (you will need a torch) and the impressive 32 m Marokopa Falls. All of these places could easily be visited from Waitomo.
- If you do head this way as part of a longer trip south then south of Marokopa is a place called Waikawau. Head out to the coast here and you will find a free campsite and a tunnel that takes you to a wild remote beach. This is a great spot.
Going North - There is an excellent Kiwi House in Otorohanga. Here day becomes night giving you a rare opportunity to spot a kiwi bird (along with a wide range of other NZ natives).
Readers have left 4 comments. 4. Blackwater Rafting guides
Raquel Hakim (Rollins College), Unregistered I was really amused by our Blackwater Rafting guides in Waitomo. I thought they were really funny. I had to stop myself form laughing out loud. 3. Waitomo Shearding Shed absolutely recommended
Raquel Hakim (Rollins College), Unregistered The angora rabbit Shearing Shed was so bizarre. If I was driving by I would absolutely stop in. There is no doubt about it that this place is a must see. For some it’s a little over-bizarre. Grace felt uncomfortable taking a picture, but I would still recommend it.
2. Wanted Waitomo Caves to be a little rougher
Mimi Palmore (BU), Unregistered We did the Labyrinth tour with Discover Waitomo and I wanted it to be a little rougher but it was cool. Our guides were crazy out of their minds. There was an eel that hung out in a little place and one of the guides had picked some cicadas to feed it. There are two 3 or 4 foot jumps that you do on your tubes and you smack into the water, and the guides could do crazy flips. We walked around in the caves and floated in the tubes. Overall, it was pretty low key but I really enjoyed it. 1. Waitomo Caves like no where else!
Jaimie Collum (BU), Unregistered I liked the Waitomo Caves Black Labyrinth Tour (with Discover Waitomo), but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I was expecting it to be similar to white water rafting, but it was more relaxing. You jump off a couple small waterfalls, and the tour guides are really funny. When you think of black water rafting you think thrilling, but it’s not that. It’s cool but the advertising is misleading. You won’t find that type of experience anywhere else. |
| | | |
|
