Today we went on a “Spellbound” tour to see caves and glowworms. At 10am we were picked up and travelled in a minibus for half an hour on an unsealed road to the caves. When we were got there we were given a hard hat and entered the cave. We walked into the cave with our headlights on for a couple of metres and were then told to turn our lights off to adjust our eyes to the dark.
We were shown the glowworm 'fishing lines' or mucus-silk threads which are used like spider's webs to catch prey. Glowworms are actually the larval stage of the fungus gnat. The 'glow' is created by a chemical light which is used to attract and ensnare midges and flying insects in the fishing nets. Whilst we were watching we saw a fly get caught in a net and be slowly pulled up by the glowworm to be feasted upon. It all seemed rather gruesome.
We next boarded a dingy and glided through an underwater tunnel in pitch black save for the glow of hundreds and hundreds of glowworms in the tunnel. It was really impressive if not a bit eerie because we could hear underwater waterfalls but had no idea how far away or deep they were.
After this part of the trip we went back outside and had our complimentary, cup of tea or coffee and biscuits which seemed to happen on most NZ trips.
Next we visited Te Ana o Te Atua (The Cave of the Spirit) – a deep cave filled with stalactites, stalagmites, animal bones, and cracks where natural light flooded through. In all the tour lasted 3 hours and we were back in Waitomo by 1pm.
Our guidebook recommended the Raukauri Natural Tunnel track as one of the most impressive short walks in NZ so we felt we had to do it before we left. It was 2km long and took 45 mins and was indeed impressive taking us past waterfalls and through natural limestone tunnels.
After this we headed to our next nights stop in Ohakune which was about 2hrs away due south. The SH4 turned out to be a particularly scenic and quiet road making it a pleasurable road to drive on. We stopped in Te Kuiti for quiche and salad and Taumaruni for coffee before arriving in Ohakune and checking into our B&B.
That night we went out for a meal at the Powderhorn Chateau in Okahune Junction but although the food was delicious we had to make a hasty escape as we both came under attack from mosquitos. So we headed back and opted for an early night ready for our river trip the next day.
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