Glowworm Cave

After having gone on the previous cave tour and getting up close and personal with glowworms, Kristen and I found it a bit of a let-down to do the actual Glowworm Cave tour.  After being shuffled through some uninspiring caves, we were loaded onto an aluminum boat with 20 or so other people and sent through a water-filled cave where we couldn’t take pictures.  The above photo is looking out down the river where we exited.

The boat that we took through the cave.  Seriously.  If you’re going to this area, check out the other cave rather than this one.  This cave was cool and all but the other was way better.

 

 

 

Ruakuri Cave

 

The Ruakuri Cave is part of the Waitomo Caves complex on the north island of New Zealand.  We took a tour of this glowworm filled cave and found it absolutely lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another tour that is available takes you on a rafting trip through the underground river directly below us.

 

Glowworms!

 

 

 

I’m in a cave!

 

 

The entrance and exit to the cave.

 

 

 

 

Cavepeople.

 

 

The strings hanging down are from glowworms.

 

 

 

Waipoua Kauri Forest

On our drive down the coast, we encountered the Waipoua Kauri Forest.  In among the jungle foliage there be giants.  This raised pathway took us from the road into the trees to find a monster.

Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest.

Yes, it’s HUGE.

 

The tree is so big, we couldn’t capture it all in one frame.

Another slightly smaller tree nearby.

Rolling down a twisty road onward to more New Zealand adventure!