Ruakuri and Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

Waitomo Glow Worm Caves were our next point of call and we’d booked the trip first thing in the morning following advice of it getting very busy. So we checked out of our motel – friendly staff and service but didn’t really instil a sense of cleanliness – won’t be going back there in a hurry, and pressed on to Waitomo stopping quickly for a breakfast of pancakes, bacon and maple syrup.

The first cave trip we did was the Ruakuri Cave which you enter via a circular spiral ramp. Anyone who knows me knows I love my camera, however was totally gutted when I drew out my camera only to discover that I’d left the battery in the recharging unit, grrr. 

The Ruakuri Cave was a two hour guided walking tour and I have to say it was first class, which we owe to our guide Brydie otherwise known as “B”. Her enthusiasm for the cave was second to none and the boys just adored her which says it all really. About halfway round our eldest whispers to me that this is the “coolest thing ever”, and as for Junior S, well he was at the front of the group having his own personal tour! 

Luckily we did have our phones with us so managed to grab a few shots of our trip down under.

Calcium formation which I likened to a giant papadum

Sticky glow worm threads used to trap their prey

We got up close and personal with the glowworms and their jewel like sticky webs which they create to catch their prey. B also pulled a fossilized moa bone which the boys were allowed to hold – they were just thrilled to bits. 

Despite feeling somewhat bereft without my camera, we bought an awesome (little man’s words not mine) book about the caves with some stunning photos as a record… oh yes, just happens to be written by our guide B, only thing lacking is her autograph!

'B' our awesome guide 

Once back out in the bright sunshine we went on a quick walk, which starts near the entrance of the Aranui cave – a tip off from B saying it was rated one of the top 10 walks in New Zealand. The walk itself wasn’t long for New Zealand standards, but there were many scenic look out platforms along the way – and yes this time I made sure I had my fully charged camera!

Am I seeing things or does this look like a serpents head hanging from the celling as you enter the cave?

Cicada

It was nearing midday so we decided to head back to the main centre where we were booked on the Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour which is a 45 minute tour inside the cave which includes a short boat trip through the glowworm caves.

Unfortunately this time I had my camera on me but alas no photos were allowed. 

Now let the truth be told this tour was as dull as – complete contrast to the Ruakari Cave Tour. Our guide droned on in the most monotone voice… this is so boring, here we go for the 100^th time, blahh blahh blahh, to be quite frank he sounded like he was going to fall asleep on the job. When he started talking the boys glanced at each other in utter shock. 

The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is probably the most popular cave tour out of all and by the time we got there the coaches had arrived. We joined the hoards of visitors who tour the cave each year and were herded around the inside of the cave en masse, where our guide left us to be squeezed on a boat which allows you to see the glow worms in their splendour. 

Not to be all negative about this cave tour, the 5-minute boat trip was actually pretty spectacular – and we saw many a glowworm constellation as we glided through the cave.

We were planning at this point to stop off at the nearby town of Otorohanga, at Kiwi World but after a little tip off that Kiwi Land was quite disappointing and rundown, expensive for what it is and consisted of the one solo Kiwi we decided to by pass this and head over to the Hamilton Gardens where they were currently holding their 2 week arts show. Unfortunately we spent too long over our lunch and we arrived fairly late in the day and had shut off parts of the gardens for different concerts, so we opted for a quick ice-cream and then transported our two little tired boys back to our pad in Takapuna.