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Published: February 14th 2009
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The Team
Getting wet in the bathtub to squeeze into our wet suits February 11th
We were on the road early because today we wanted to hit Waitomo Caves. It was only a good hours drive north of Tongariro and the car was loving the tight twists and turns in the road.
Waitomo Caves is famous for its glowworm caves and the invention of black water rafting. Black water rafting consists of jumping on a giant rubber ring and floating down the cave’s stream systems, occasionally plopping off a small waterfall or two.
Katherine signed us up for ‘The Labyrinth’, which was a black water raft/tube, plus we were to cruise through a few glowworm caves. It was the daddy and the most popular choice.
We donned our swim-suits and were each given a three piece wet suit, a defo photo opportunity because of how ridiculous we all looked. Then about eleven of us hopped into a van and were transported to a carpark about ten minutes drive from their base. We then had training of how to jump backwards with the tube round our arse into a small but chest-tighteningly cold stream before another small drive and walk through a bit of a jungle to the
Burnt Toast
The position for controlled floating through the pitch black entrance of our cave.
We waited for our eyes to adjust before we waded a bit and then plonking our behinds into our rings. It was such a new experience and it was so much fun paddling about and doing 360s in near pitch black on a doughnut in a cave! We saw freshwater eels that eat any of the glowworms that fall, they were rank.
Then, the sound of a waterfall grew nearer and nearer. We had hit a nice fall of about 4 feet. Remembering the five minute training we knew we had to fling ourselves off this backwards in the dark… (combo sound of a bang and a splash) … huge amounts of water up my nose and a cough and a whoop, we made it.
We were told all about the worms while drifting and that, in fact, they are maggots. We hit one more good waterfall before we all connected together in the ‘burnt toast’ manoeuvre, (feet in the ‘charm’-pits, one in front of each other). This manoeuvre signed our entry into proper glowworm country. We could just lie back with our headlamps off and marvel at the glows.
Jungle walk
It really was that remote. What - did you think they'd have a cave in their backyard? (yes) It was beautiful.
Soon, we could see daylight again and we were greeted by some Koreans who were filming for a TV program that will air in May over there. We all did a stupid, “blackwater rafting is the best” and threw our rings into the air before we were herded back into the van and shuttled back to base for a hotish shower, soup and a bagel. Nice.
The drive to Hamilton was not as expected. The GPS took us on a wicked route sometimes single track, this was explained as it was the shortest distance to our destination. It was so nice having a road going car that was based on a rally car, I tell thee.
We cruised into Hamilton and set about finding the cheapest bed we could. Checked in and headed out for an al-fresco dinner.
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