Travel Page 32

32
Port Waikato to Waitomo

We were supposed to get to Otorohanga, but somehow we lost our way and ended up back in Hamilton . I was a bit disappointed but that soon cleared when I walked into reception at the Hamilton Holiday Park , only to be greeted by Ann and her husband Ern. We had met these two some time ago running the Holiday Park at West Shore , near Napier. It was lovely to see them again and it made me feel better about being back in Hamilton . Ann and Ern, run holiday parks, so that the owners of the parks get a Holiday too, once in a while.

Esther about to enter a Waitomo cave >


		Anyway we settled back into the same spot that we had stayed in the last time and got organised for the evening meal. The next day we walked into Hamilton Centre and had a Thai lunch. It was very cheap and delicious. Then we went off looking for a wedding present for one of my dancers in England and Fergus had the perfect idea for it. So we bought the present, took it to the post office and sent it and a card off to England . < Entrance to our first cave


We strolled past the cinema and wondered what was on. It was the middle of the afternoon and they were showing a docu/drama about the King Penguins living in the Antarctic. The film is called “The great March”. We decided to treat ourselves and saw the most beautiful and moving drama about these amazing creatures. Should this film come your way I think it is well worth going to see it. It is beautifully shot, stunning scenes and photography, amazing close ups, moving music, all looking at all the aspects of the life of a King Penguin. We came out all elated and full of admiration for these wonderful creatures. The glow worms let down strings to catch insects >


		By now it was Friday morning and time to move on again. Someone told us about a great alpaca farm in Cambridge (NZ) and Fergus was quite happy to take me there first and then continue with the journey. We found the farm and met with the owner. He was very nice and talked to us and gave us lots of information to take away. It seems that as a first step I can join the NZ Alpaca Association. This will give me lots of information and I will be able to attend workshops on all aspects of alpaca’s life. < Limestone country

All excited we continued and this time found the way down to Waitomo. This area is famous for it’s glow worm caves and we booked ourselves on one of the tours. There was a choice of three and I think we picked the best one. It was on Saturday afternoon and we got picked up with a wan and taken to this special cave. There were only 9 of us and so we had a terrific trip. Norm, as our guide was known, was very entertaining and told us all sorts of things about the local area. We got out of the minibus and walked to the first cave. We got issued with helmets and these helmets had a cave light attached. We were asked to keep to the path and not to touch anything at all or we would be in trouble. Norm was very enthusiastic about this cave and beautifully explained the wonder of it all. We walked into the cave, one behind the other and the light lessened the further in we got. Our eyes too got used to the darkness and we started to see the glow worms. Then we came to a waterway. On it was parked a rubber dingy. Our lights switched on we all got loaded into the boat very carefully. Then Norm gave us his final instructions and then we drifted in the dark, noiselessly and without comment along the stream. It was breathtaking. Millions and millions of tiny greeny blue lights shone and twinkled and Norm pulled us all gently along by a rope which was installed along the ceiling of the cave. As we moved we could hear a waterfall ahead of us and Norm pulled us to the very edge of it. It was simply wonderful and no comment was necessary. It was almost spiritual and very magical. When we got to the edge, Norm turned the boat sideways and we could see in both directions. He just let us sit and enjoy this wonderful space. Then he started to pull the boat back up the stream and about half way up stopped again for us to just sit and enjoy. It was wonderful not to be rushed or talked too and eventually we returned, to where we stated. By now our eyes had adjusted so well to the dark that we could see each other without the lights on and we got out of the boat just by glow worm light. Fantastic!

Moa bones

When the mites go up
the tites come down


		We walked back the way we came and enjoyed the plants at the cave entrance silhouetted against the bright autumn sky. Norm took our hard hats and invited us for a walk and then a cup of coffee. This is just so very New Zealand . Norm had two big flasks of hot water, various tins with tea, coffee, hot chocolate powder and biscuits. We sat in the open, Norm got installed an a makeshift table, lined up all the cups, took orders as to what was going in the cups and then poured the hot water from the flask without stopping, moving the flask from cup to cup. We laughed at this approach but he had one more trick up his sleeve. When it came to adding the sugar, he produced a double teaspoon. What an invention! Norm reckoned it saved time to only have to scoop once for two spoons of sugar…. < the walk to the second cave


After we had been revived by Norm’s camp café he took us to see one more cave. This one was dry and opened up to a cathedral. It had a concreted path all the way and it was light only when Norm pushed the light button. At the very end of the cave was a bright shaft of light, which looked spiritual. The shaft of light you see in religious pictures. Norm asked us where the light had come from and some of us were sure that the cave must have a hole to the outside world. And so it was, in fact we found other holes but non as magnificent as that one. On the way back out again, Norm showed us the bones of various animals that many years ago, either fell into the cave or wanderer in to it, and then could not find their way out again…. One of these creatures was a Moa, a big flightless bird, which is now extinct. The Maori liked to eat them and as they could not got away easily, they were easily hunted to extinction.		Norm make tea and coffee etc.


		This was truly a wonderful experience, and one of the very best tourist attractions we have come across. It was personal and not very touristy. It felt like we were visiting some ones estate or property and I felt very privileged to have seen it and experienced it with such a personal touch. < walking away from the caves


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