New Zealand 2017 Day 2: Auckland to Waitomo Caves

The morning in Auckland started out drizzly and dreary. I left the Airbnb around 8:30am and walked 15 minutes to the Budget car rental.

The car rental process was smooth, but I felt so rushed. I couldn't properly read all the receipt details, and felt the associate just kept pushing me along telling me to sign and press next. I got pressured into getting additional insurance, to drop my deductible down to $300NZD instead of $3000. I guess peace of mind was nice.

I got into the car, and was immediately nervous. The city road was right in front of me. Traffic lights, cars, stores. Luckily I was not the first person at a light, so I was able to just follow people ahead of me. It was a nerve-wracking experience when I first got onto the freeway. I kept hitting the windshield wiper whenever I wanted to signal.

Once I was outside of Auckland, the drive was so much easier. Fewer cars, and the clouds and rain had cleared. It was around a 2.5 hr drive to Waitomo, and the last 1.5 of it was really beautiful. The entire landscape looked like the Shire. I didn't end up mounting my GoPro on my windshield because I wanted to focus on driving, but I really do wish I had taken at least one photo. The highway took me through beautiful country sides with rolling hills, endless green fields and wildflowers. As far as the eye could see. And happy cows! So many happy cows.

I wish I could have just driven slow and enjoyed the scenery, but found that I kept holding up traffic. I was sure I was going around the speed limit, and someone new would end up tailgating me. 

Finally arrived at the Legendary Black Water Company!

Finally arrived at the Legendary Black Water Company, and my head was feeling weird from the 1) bright clouds the entire morning, 2) intense focus on driving 3) hunger. Luckily they had a cafe there, so I was able to enjoy a chicken burger with Pineapple. Yum.

The 1pm tour had six participants, and coincidentally all women!  Even more crazy was someone else from Seattle. Also named Crystal. Weird! All in all it was a group of two and one of three. 

We started off by learning about the equipment to wear, and making sure everything properly fit. The body suits really were awkward looking on us.

A quick five or ten minute shuttle bus ride took us to the entrance of the cave, where we would repel down into it. But first, we had to learn and practice repelling and using the rope.

Going down the cave was less scary then I thought. It might have helped that I watched a few of the other women go first, and no one was screaming or anything. The actual opening into the cave was pretty small. And once past, it was darkness and wet limestone all the way down.

Repelling, or abseiling, down the cave!

Next was the zipline portion. How amazing! It was not a long zipline, but it was in darkness, where the only light was emitted by the glowworms.  It was so fun and I definitely shrieked as I flew down.

Bioluminescence in the cave

Afterwards, we moved to the innertubes portion. I was so proud of myself.  I am not a strong swimmer and hate putting my head underwater.  But, we had to jump into the water on the innertube, which included a quick submerging. It wasn't deep water, and it was probably only from eight feet high. But this was the most nerve wracking for me. I almost backed out, but just pushed myself. How nice to get through it! 

A tiny water slide in the cave

We floated on the tube for a while, all while enjoying the glowworms and darkness of the cave. The next parts are a bit blurry, but it was a combo of more floating on innertubes, floating on our backs, and wading and walking through the water. The freezing cold water!

The story of the glowworm is sad and interesting. So much time growing and catching food, to be alive in full form for only four days.

The final part of the journey was also challenging, but we had such amazing direction from the guides. There were two waterfalls we had to climb up to get out of the cave. They weren't huge waterfalls, but still very scary to think you could lose your grip and fall down on some rocks.  We all made it out okay, and I can't believe I successfully did all that! I'm so proud of myself, and surprised myself with my physical ability...especially when I don't generally have upper body strength :)

Quick photo op after getting out of the cave water

We had soup and bagels afterwards, and I chatted with the other women for some time before heading to Cambridge for the evening.  It was great that it was still sunny and bright even after 7:30pm.  It was a beautiful and easy drive to Cambridge. 

Tomorrow is an early day as I go to Hobbiton! So excited.