The Waitomo district is situated 2 1/2 hours drive south of Auckland, off State Highway 3, and is the setting for one of New Zealand’s premier attractions, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. This complex of caves and grottos is lit by thousands of tiny glowworms, and features stalactites and stalagmites. These are crystalline deposits, formed over thousands of years as the result of water dripping from the roof of the cave or flowing over exposed limestone walls. As the water leaches down through the earth, it dissolves the limestone, then it drips into the caves and crystallises into spectacular formations.
The Waitomo area also provides the opportunity for horse-trekking, caving, bushwalks, a variety of cave tubing trips including black-water rafting, and for the really adventurous, a 100 metre abseil into the amazing Lost World. Visits can also be made to the award-winning Waitomo Museum of Caves featuring inter-active displays on the fascinating geology of this region, angora rabbit shearing, a pioneer show, a nearby wildlife park and a host of other attractions.
Within ½ hour of Waitomo, you can visit the Mangapohue Natural Bridge, consisting of two limestone arches spanning a river. Stalactites and large 30 million year old oyster shell fossils can be seen. Further along are the Piripiri Caves, which also have an abundance of oyster fossils, then the 35 metre high Marokopa Falls.
Otorohanga township, north of Waitomo, is known as the ‘Kiwi Town’ of New Zealand. This is the home of the nocturnal Kiwi House, where visitors can see real live kiwi. An outdoor aviary encloses a natural rainforest, home to many other species of native birds. The park also has a breeding colony of the rare tuatara, a survivor of the dinosaur age.
Why stop? Why not? Waitomo!! You’ll love it.
