Back in Canada, while we were coordinating dates to visit, they offered to take us caving during our visit. We decided to forgo the packaged group tour experience in the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island and save our caving experience for our visit with them. Who better to guide you through narrow passages and expansive caverns than the best of the best?!
Mike and I had gone black-water rafting in the glow worm caves in Waitomo in 2005 and knew it was an experience we wanted the kids to try. Unfortunately, given age restrictions, we would not have been able to abseil or raft with the kids so we were very lucky to have our friends, P and K, offer to take us instead.
P and K moved to the Motueka area because of the numerous caves close by. For our expedition, they picked a cave that was an hour's drive away. We stopped at P's work to gear up- thermals (base layers), fleece, gloves, helmets, headlamps and old shoes. Caving is messy and muddy so being able to borrow gear was great...and necessary. When you are traveling with carry-on luggage for a year, you don't have the luxury of ripping pants and ruining shoes for an afternoon of fun!
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| Matching thermals |
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| All geared up |
The drive was beautiful as we made our way up and over the mountain.
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| Switchback roads |
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| Farms and more farms |
We parked in a farmer's field and got up close and personal with the local cows as we geared up.
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| Almost ready |
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| The cows kept a close eye on us |
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| We're off! |
We climbed up a hill and found ourselves at 'Monsters Mouth'- the entrance to the cave.
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| Many cave entrances in NZ are found on private land |
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| Climbing up the hill |
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| The view on the way up |
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| Monster Mouth- the cave entrance |
P and K let the kids go ahead as explorers, giving them certain landmarks to look for. We climbed into passages, slid on our bellies through tunnels, walked through streams and climbed up a waterfall. P and K had even organized to bring in ropes and let us all abseil down 20 feet in the middle of the cave. The kids loved it!
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| Parker the Explorer |
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| We needed the helmets- we all hit our head at least once |
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| Clambering around... |
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| We borrowed shoes so no wet feet the next day! |
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| Ready to abseil down |
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| A waterfall IN a cave?! |
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| Bringing up the rear...very muddy! |
When we turned our lights out, it was pitch black...with the exception of tiny blue lights---GLOWWORMS! The kids got up close to them later on in the cave and K taught them about the life cycle of these unique critters.
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| Looking at the webs made by glowworms |
The cave was only about 200-250 metres long but with all of the different passages, it took us about 1.5 hours to make it through. We popped back out further along in the same farmer's field.
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| A satisfied bunch |
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| Hard to believe there is such a hidden world under this hill |
On our way back down to the car, Mike heard a strange noise coming from a hole in the ground. Initially, we thought it was K playing a joke on us as this hole connected to the cave...but, with further inspection, the kids noticed that a baby deer had fallen into the cave. It became their mission to save it! Mike and P were able to get into the cave, use some rope and boost the lean, malnourished deer out of the hole. The kids were elated as we watched it wander off. Thankfully, NZ has no predators for this deer so there is hope it may survive!
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| Trapped! |
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| A new lease on life |
Saving a baby deer was a great finish to an exciting and interesting afternoon underground. We celebrated with some famous Motueka fresh fruit ice cream!
Wow, what a great adventure!
ReplyDeleteWe were very lucky to have experienced guides and willing friends!!
DeleteWhat an amazing adventure!
ReplyDeleteVery fun - first time we've every saved an animal - that felt pretty darned good... even if it was a farm animal, destined for someone's dinner plate :( !
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