6/3/2008 Waitomo Caves

Another great drive through more hills and valleys took us to our destination at Blackwater Rafting Company. There we signed up to view the Rukura Cave (via the walkways) with it's magnificent limestone creations and beautiful stalagtites and stalagmites. We even got to "spy" on those who chose the more rugged cave adventure that includes abseiling (down on a rope) with an inner tube, some floating, some walking in 60 degree or colder water...made us glad we didn't chose it!!! After an hour and a half we exited back into the sunight for our next cave adventure. Still in the same area, we were escorted down some steps and through caverns to a boat ride in total darkness to experience the lights of the glowworms on the ceiling of the cave. It felt like we were suspended somewhere with a million stars floating above us. The "glow" comes from the luminescent sac at the end of the worms body, while the long, silky "webs" dangle down to catch their prey, insects etc. that find their way into the caverns. We were both really glad we hadn't missed this part of our New Zealand adventure.