The Solo Scale:
New Zealand is home to some of the most incredible displays of natural wonders. One of the more unique offerings is their bioluminescence on display not only in the waters, but also in the caves. You can find examples on both the North and the South Island in the forests and beaches. If you want one of the most popular, that’ll be the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
You can book your Waitomo tour from a few places. I decided to visit on the way to Rotorua from Auckland as a mid-day stop. This tour is with Great Sights and also included a packed lunch. That was a nice touch, as I didn’t have to worry about buying something on my own. We departed from Auckland fairly early in the morning, but just as the fog was lifting for the day, we were arriving at the caves.
There are two sections of your visit. The first will be in the caves themselves where you can test out the acoustics and learn more about the geology of the area. Photographs aren’t allowed throughout Waitomo’s Caves and they will ask you to respect the area and stay quiet. It’s probably not surprising that during my visit, neither of those things were fully observed. These caves may be like some that you’ve seen before, but they’re still truly magnificent.
The next phase of your visit is where things get incredible. With a select number of people, you board a boat. It’s a very simple thing, but it is a bit precarious so accept help if you need it getting in. This section is a lot quieter as your guide simply lets you look up in the dark of the cave and experience the bioluminesensce of the glowworms hanging from the ceiling. I can’t lie, it made me truly emotional because of how beautiful it was.
The boat leaves the cave to the exit, which is where you’ll disembark. This is also the end of your excursion into the caves and your tour of the facilities.
If you’ve organized through a tour like Great Sights, there’s a chance that you also booked the lunch package. This was a fantastic benefit that I loved because I got a picnic lunch on the bus to Rotorua as part of the package. When you consider the value of the excursion, that’s something to factor in. Not only do you get transportation from Auckland to Rotorua, but you get the picnic lunch and the Waitomo Caves experience.
If any of this sounds up your alley, you can visit the Waitomo website for even more details!
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