13.1.2018: Rain, rain and more rain

Due to the continuous rain, I spend the morning safe and sound in the hostel. When it finally takes a break around noon, I quickly devour my food and start my exploration tour.

The Labyrinth Walkway is only 2 km away from the hostel, but unfortunately it is extensively flooded. Right at the beginning, I have to take off my shoes and wade through. As the name suggests, the Labyrinth Walkway is a labyrinth with corridors along partly funny-shaped and folded limestone. Although I photographed the map at the entrance, I didn't take a look at it, making the labyrinth even more fun. I constantly end up in dead ends and have to ask myself, 'Haven't I been here before?' or 'Will I get back to the main path if I take this turn?' It's a lot of fun, especially for children, as there are toys placed throughout the area - action figures as well as movie characters from 'Minions', 'Madagascar' or 'The Lion King' are hidden in spider webs, narrow rock crevices, or on protruding branches. It's a real shame that not all paths are passable, but I don't have to wade through the brown muck almost knee-deep to turn back after a few steps. At least the main path is accessible. Just as I finished my tour, someone from the operators comes and pumps out the water at the entrance area.

Next, I want to see the Rawhiti Cave. After overcoming the bumpy ride and parking the car, two girls point out that the path is impassable. I want to see for myself, so I grab water shoes and hiking poles and find myself facing the same problem two minutes later. The Dirt River, which you have to cross, scares me off with its high flow speed. I still try, initially staying close to the shore, but as soon as I set foot towards the middle of the river, I sink almost reaching my waist. With all my effort, I struggle back to the safe shore against the strong current. The cave is definitely off today. Back at the parking lot, I can vividly talk two more aspiring visitors out of the track (my pants are soaking wet).

Instead, I stroll through the city to the library, where there is free Wi-Fi in New Zealand in general, but it is already closed, and then walk to the Fresh Choice Supermarket in the pouring rain to replenish my completely empty food supplies. In hindsight, it was good that I failed at the beginning of the Rawhiti Cave Track. The newly added water masses would have made a river crossing impossible by now.