Tag 53 - Waipu Cave

From the DOC site it was about 15 more on a gravel road to the caves of Waipu. One of the few 'sights' in New Zealand that is not commercialized. So I put on some warmer clothes and took my flashlight with me. The descent into the cave was slippery and quite steep. After about 15 meters in the cave, it was over for me, as I had to wade through a small stream, which was not possible with my cycling shoes, and even after that, the terrain was not suitable for the non-hiking shoes. But even these meters were impressive, I saw some glowworms and some massive stalactites and stalagmites. Overall, I had not expected the cave to be so deep and high in the foothills. In terms of feeling, it was more like a huge hall than a cave.

Right next to the cave, the hiking trail leads to two mountain ridges, promising a great view and taking about 1.5 hours each way. Unfortunately, the weather was not so great today, but I still wanted to do this hike!

The trail was very steep in some places, but overall it was really great, going through forests and across fields. From the highest point, there was a great view of the surrounding landscape. Back at the car, I looked for a campground in the north of Auckland. I decided to go to the Muriwai site again, I like the proximity to the beach and the airport.

I checked the packaging for my bike and packed my bags. This will be another close call. I'm excited!