Nov11 Waitomo caves

Tried to sleep in, as we’d booked two nights and therefore didn’t have to vacate the premises at 9-10am. Our tour was set for 11:30. I wanted to sleep in, but was up as soon as the daylight started seeping through the curtains.

The sun continued to rise, I continued to read. Going to be a hot, sunny day. Perfect for playing around underground.

Actually, it is. They shut down the caves if there’s been too much rain, as they flood easily and quickly. Our guide mentioned they’re probably closed for about 30 days each year due to rain. So, a sunny day is a good day to play in the dark.

Got to the "Legendary Blackwater Rafting Company" center, met our guides, Josh and Lucas. We’d left the cameras in the van as we knew we’d be getting WET. All the photos you see are from the CD I bought after our adventure.

That brings up a few points. While I got the email addys from my compatriots, I neglected to get permission to use their pics on the blog. Guys, please email me or use the comments if you want any pic removed. Also, these pics are resized for web use, I’ll be sending you the fullsize shots as soon as I get a reliable connection.

Got garbed in a wetsuit, boots, a helmet with built in led lights, and strapped on a climbing harness. Ready?




Jumped in a van, out to the cave mouth. Practiced our rappelling skills, as we were to drop straight down 40 meters (130 feet) from the surface on a rope to enter.



Clipped on, and down we went…




The entrance narrowed to a small hole about 30 feet down, I had to wriggle a bit to pass through and continue down.

Controlling our descent with thumb pressure, we slid to the bottom, the limestone opening up impressively. We waited at the bottom, watching everyone slide down. The opening was a tiny circle of light far above our heads. Gloworms here and there sparkled, the limestone walls reminding me of our “Pancake rocks” visit days ago.

We crept along the floor of the cave, sharp edges and fissures everywhere. Young stalactites and stalagmites hung here and there, thick and stubby.

We reached a hand line bolted into the wall, and clipped in. One by one, we zip lined over a deep chasm, our guides instructing us to shut off our lights as we went. Cool. The pulleys buzzing, the gloworm colonies streaming by.

Disengaging, we sat on a ledge overlooking a dark river of water flowing ten feet beneath our feet. Coffee from Lucas’ thermos fortified us. We sat in silence, gazing at the shining green constellations above.

Coffee done, we jumped on a pile of inner tubes…




Chose one, and leapt into the water below.

Cold! Popping back to the surface, we’d all managed to remain on our tubes. Finding the rope in the water, we pulled ourselves along, watching the cavern twist and turn above.

Finally stopping, we examined some low hanging gloworm fishing lines, got a bit of gloworm education, then we formed a chain. Boots on the tube in front of you, arms holding the boots of the person behind, we all extinguished our lights and floated as one back downstream, our guide at the front, skillfully navigating the darkness. Eyes becoming adjusted, the myriad glowing larvae actually produced enough light to see. Head back, I watched the lights stream slowly by. Absolutely beautiful.

Reaching the jump point, we splashed out of our tubes into waist deep water, tossing them back up onto the ledge for the next group.

Continuing downstream, the water deepened, the buoyancy of our suits helping. Walking unsteadily on the jagged floor, we eventually just laid back and floated down. We squeezed through a tight horizontal tube barely big enough for my shoulders, slid headfirst down a short waterslide. The tube widened, the water flow diminished and now only lapped mid calf, we stopped for a break.

Sitting on a natural ledge, feet still in the river, we again received a warm drink from the backpack Lucas wore… Hot O.J. and chunks of chocolate. Cupping the glass, feeling it warm my cold pruny hands, sitting in a subterranean chamber carved by the very river our feet were marinating in. What an experience.

Onward. We heard a roaring torrent in the distance, the noise carrying back and echoing off the walls. Our first waterfall.

Lucas pointed out the dangers, and the safe spot to aim for. We jumped. Going deep, I got a rush of cold water down the wetsuit collar, displacing the water I’d trapped against my skin and slowly warmed until it was a barrier to the cold river. Whew! The neoprene helped float me back to the surface, where we all bobbed. Lucas crept high on an overhanging pillar, and plunged deep. Impressive skills. The guy likes his job.

Crawling back toward the lip of the falls, we actually crept under the river like a surfer riding a barrel.

Crouched on a ledge underneath the cascade....



Popping up on the opposite side of the cave.

Continuing on through the labyrinthine tunnels, trying to avoid the sharp edges, but thankful for the helmet, we squeezed through a narrow ( as in narrower than my shoulders…I had to creep in on my belly ) opening near the floor, half full of inrushing water. This led to a small room, where another waterfall cascaded into the center. We climbed the steep walls, our guide wordlessly pointing to hand and footholds as the sound of rushing water was overpowering. Crept around a bend, and climbed yet another waterfall, this one with many of the holds actually under the waters surface, the rough stone giving excellent grip. Through a tighter passage, and daylight.

We stopped for photos..




Then scrambled out of the same small hole in the ground a creek was flowing into. Standing on solid ground, looking back at the tiny hole that led to such magnificent passages, my sense of smell suddenly hyper acute. I could smell the floral scent of flowers yards away. Apparently the sterile cave air resets your smell just as darkness adjusts your vision.

The walk back to the van in our squishy boots had us overheating in the sunshine, we pulled off the neoprene jackets before getting in. The ride back was primarily silent, reflective. What a day.

Back at the center, we showered and got a little bite to eat, chatted with our guides. A screen was scrolling through the photos Lucas had taken during the trip with a waterproof camera.

Saying our farewells, we headed to a small nearby town for supplies/books, then returned to the campground. Pulled the bikes out of the back, locking them to the tow loop welded to the bumper. Felt a twinge of regret that we haven’t utilized them as we thought/should. We barely put 50kms on them. Just no time. Either driving or doing something, no real cruise around time. Five weeks was not enough.

Enjoyed a cold beer in hot sunshine, watching spaces fill around us. Many German tourists this time of year, wonder why?

Waitomo caves. Highly recommended. Almost as much fun as jumping off a cliff. Almost. But this rush lasts 5 hours. Put it on your list. Really.

Goodnight.