Waitomo Lost Adventures & Waitomo Cave

Hello my dear ones,

This will probably be the last blog for today, but I have written 4, and I think that is a good progress. And this post will be my absolute favorite for today because it is about my absolute favorite activity that I have done in New Zealand so far: 100 meters of rappelling into a cave and then discovering caves back. A DREAM!

I booked the attraction through bookme. and got a 40 percent discount. (Only afterwards did I find out that I could have received an even larger discount through my work here, but I am still happy) It was nonetheless a somewhat costly activity compared to what I usually book. But I tell you, it was worth every penny!

With a small group of a maximum of 8 people, we took a bus from the main camp through the hills of the Waitomo District to the entrance point of the cave. Here, we were fully equipped and received our 'climbing gear'. This consisted of: overalls, rubber boots, helmet, headlamp, rappelling device, Via Ferrata equipment.

And then we got started with a short exercise for the gear, which honestly was not a problem for me. I was definitely the loudest and most motivated person in the group and was just overjoyed to feel the weight of the equipment on my hips and to touch a bit of rock and ropes! I don't think I was very nervous, as I was sooooo motivated and had also worked with the equipment before. After a brief practice, we then went for the 100-meter rappel into the cave. We were not allowed to take cameras, but the guides took photos of us, and I think you can see why I was so happy and just HOW happy I was! A DREAM!

In the photo (directly above the paragraph), can you tell who I am? The person whose headlamp gave up on her first. Technical things and I have never been good friends anywhere in the world. The Saddeler genes, I would say. ;) (Sending lots of love to Mum and Uncle here!)

Once we arrived in the cave, we slowly ventured further and further into the darkness. And since it was such a special moment, we naturally took a few photos as well!

On the way back to the surface, we climbed through complete darkness at times. And in that darkness, the glowworms illuminated our way, and it looked as if the caves had their own lighting and their own constellations. What an experience! You can see a photo of the whole group in the next image. We were sitting directly under one of the colonies.

The return journey also took us over a 30-meter exposed ladder, which we were allowed to climb in the dark with the light of the glowworms upon request. Of course, I did that. A wonder of nature in the dark!

After the tour in New Zealand, it's always before the tour, and since I was already there, I also checked out the classic Waitomo Caves with a tour. However, I must say that this tour compared to all the other places where I could see glowworms was just a letdown. In short: It was quite boring and too expensive for what I eventually got offered. But I was on such a high that the world could have ended, and I would have sat there with a smile.

A dream day with dream photos! So many cool adventures here in New Zealand!

Love you all,
Your Britta