Waitomo and Taupo Lake

This morning cloudiness was announced and it was there until noon, the sky was dense. Perfect for me, because today I went underground anyway.

Today I visited the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. (I don't have any photos of it because photography is not allowed... but that's good, because it makes the glowworms glow even more).

During the tour, you first enter increasingly larger dry stalactite caves. In the largest room, our guide demonstrated the special acoustics by giving a pretty good performance of Amazing Grace in Maori, after no one volunteered.

Finally, our group reached the pitch-dark caves in boats, illuminated only by the glow of the glowworms. If I didn't know better, I would say that the blue light comes from thousands of LEDs on the ceiling and not from living creatures. Very special.

Back in daylight, I made my way to Lake Taupo. To my surprise, the associated town with the same name was bustling. As I found out, the Ironman New Zealand will take place there tomorrow, and today was the day for checking the bicycles and wetsuits. The value of the bicycles is probably difficult to quantify.

While enjoying a burger (aioli is always a good idea), I watched the swimmers warming up, the seaplanes landing, and the helicopters. Taupo is one of the adventure sports cities in New Zealand.

My destination today was a campsite right on the east shore of the lake. Once I arrived, I spent the rest of the day sunbathing, swimming, and watching.

Tomorrow, I will have my own Ironman on the agenda, but more about that tomorrow...