New Zealand 2007 

 

                                    Day Twenty-Five  Waitomo Caves April 07

                                               

                                            Ultimate day of adventure - Rappelling 30 stories into a fern edged cavern.  The "Lost World" 

                                            cave hike started with a 20 minute country drive viewing the random toss of limestone rocks.

                                            

                                            After suiting up in overalls, cave light helmet, and white "gummy" boats, we received training

                                            on rope connection and control.  The 300 foot descend started the hike - mist was hanging at

                                            the bottom and the cave river was out of scale from the surface.  Some may recognize this

                                            same cave on an Amazing Race television episode.

 

                                            It didn't take long to become comfortable with the rope - just using a foot wrap to control the 

                                            descent.  However, spending too much time descending creates a noticeable feel of the harness

                                            gear.  Once down in the cave, it was time to hike the cave and return to the surface.

 

                                            One of the highlights included  glow-worm caverns.  Glow is from larvae on the dark cave

                                            ceiling that uses a superiorly efficient method to burn energy and generate LED looking lights.

                                            Potential mates or insects carried by the interior cave river are attracted to the bright light.

                                            After a few minutes, the black cavern is lit by the hundreds of glow-worms.

 

                                           4 hours is the length of our hike; however, the 7 hour version includes jumping into the river

                                           and hiking or swimming directly out of the cave.  Our dry version required a 100 foot climb

                                           up a metal ladder - one rung at a time.  Hiking continued between, under, and over boulders.

                                           Once out of the cave, it was dusk and sheep were passing by in the setting light.

 

                                            Returned to the somewhat creepy and creaky Waitomo Caves Hotel.  Over 100 years of

                                            history is associated with the hotel; however, peeling wallpaper and retro bathroom creates

                                            a "The Shining" movie meets "Faulty Towers" type atmosphere.  However, the strange twist

                                            is the restaurant with somewhat fine dining.  After the hike, venison steak was the choice

                                            and dessert was the New Zealand national favorite - Pavlova.  Created by a  chef decades

                                            ago, it was based on a visiting Russian prima ballerina named Anna Pavlova.  Heavy meringue 

                                            and strawberries replicate her original outfit.

 

 

                                            

                                                                       

 

                                                                       

                                

                                                        

                                

                                                 

                                                                                            Last Updated 2007 March email@ellerberoad.com