Black water rafting. and ting.

---

On the way to Waitomo (home of interesting caves), we stopped to see another hot water park and Maori cultural centre for a while, which had a Geyser. A Canadian girl on the bus was confused as to why we were stopping at a park to see some old people (geezers). It took every ounce of self restraint I had, but she lives on.

Also saw a kiwi bird there, which was nice. they have long beaks, are nocturnal, and run back and forward quite a lot. The running back and forward may not be true of every kiwi bird. I don't think it would be actually, as they wouldnt get much done if it was.

Also I bought a Maori head carving thing.

Back on bus, and off to what turned out to be a really nice hostel with a big BBQ, so we stopped off to get some food for that, and then spent the rest of the afternoon lying by the pool reading and sleeping a bit, then BBQ dinner and we took the bus to the cave in the evening (about half ten)to go on a night walk, which pleased the mattador on the grounds that he had another opportunity to use his head torch. Once I'd beaten the hoards of admiring girls away from said head torch, we went round this place and saw lots of glow worms in caves and just knocking about generally, doing general glow-wormy things. Also I devoted some time to convicing the same canadian girl that the holes in the rocks were where gremlins lived. I have discovered that if I just use my teacher voice and look serious people just believe anything. One girl on the trip is now convinced that a dragon lives in the caves, and some people have actually died from its fire. I amuse myself anyway...

Next morning was up at 7 to head blackwater rafting in the caves. Turns out its not really like proper rafting, and in fact involves donning a wetsuit and some silly white booties and a caving hat, and getting really really cold in the dark in a big rubber ring. Lots of walking over rocks in the dark cold water, and some floating in the glow worm caves. Was really good actuially, but hot shower and soup were also rated pretty highly afterwards. I had a really good spinach and ricotta flan as well.

Hopped on bus around midday to go to Taupo, home of the skydive....

---

Comments

[maggie]

very proud Auntie
How exciting!! Have your travelblog coming up automatically now Matthew. What a great time you are having and what an experience. Like the anecdotes and writing style!! Sending lots of love from rainy old England.

[harris]

flan
if you want really good spinach and ricotta flan try the one on the way back up when you travel from wellington to taupo in a cafe called the brown sugar cafe. it's amazing.