Visit The Waitomo District On Your Drive South From Auckland
If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, you'll have plenty of places to choose from to visit as part of your trip. New Zealand is blessed with many unique locations offering visitors a huge array of experiences. From Cape Reinga in Northland to the Stewart Island in the South, there are a wide variety of natural and man made attractions.
One location you should definitely put on your 'must see' list is the Waitomo District, in Waikato. Located less than three hours south of Auckland the area is most famous for it's glowworm caves but has also added adventure tourism and cultural experiences to it's repertoire.
The glowworm caves are unique to New Zealand, they were the result of volcanic activity and are limestone. The glowworms, which are insects, are the size of mosquitoes and glow through a process known as bioluminescence. Due to their special scientific significance the caves are monitored at all times to ensure air flow and levels are at their optimum to provide the best possible conditions for the glowworms. There are restrictions on visitor numbers per day as well as the activities that can be carried out. This ensures the caves remain in pristine condition and the glowworms will remain a world exclusive attraction for future generations.
If you are into adventure tourism then other parts of the 300 odd caves in the area offer the chance to take you out of the comfort zone and push your adventure boundaries, with black water rafting. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is rafting through underground caves, hence the black water reference, rather than white water rafting which is undertaken aboveground in the open air. Black water rafting assaults several of your senses as being underground, in caves and caverns means that you may not always be able to see where you are going. It's the combination of caving and rafting.
Waitomo also offers some wonderful accommodation options from hotel and motels to boutique bed and breakfasts to farm stays. Your hosts will not only be hospitable and welcoming but you will also be treated to their wealth of knowledge about the area and other 'must do' attractions and events in the area. No doubt, one of these recommendations will be to visit Hobbiton, not only for Lord of the Rings fans, this enchanting place is bound to capture the imagination of young and old, and offers a great family day out. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a magical afternoon.
One location you should definitely put on your 'must see' list is the Waitomo District, in Waikato. Located less than three hours south of Auckland the area is most famous for it's glowworm caves but has also added adventure tourism and cultural experiences to it's repertoire.
The glowworm caves are unique to New Zealand, they were the result of volcanic activity and are limestone. The glowworms, which are insects, are the size of mosquitoes and glow through a process known as bioluminescence. Due to their special scientific significance the caves are monitored at all times to ensure air flow and levels are at their optimum to provide the best possible conditions for the glowworms. There are restrictions on visitor numbers per day as well as the activities that can be carried out. This ensures the caves remain in pristine condition and the glowworms will remain a world exclusive attraction for future generations.
If you are into adventure tourism then other parts of the 300 odd caves in the area offer the chance to take you out of the comfort zone and push your adventure boundaries, with black water rafting. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is rafting through underground caves, hence the black water reference, rather than white water rafting which is undertaken aboveground in the open air. Black water rafting assaults several of your senses as being underground, in caves and caverns means that you may not always be able to see where you are going. It's the combination of caving and rafting.
Waitomo also offers some wonderful accommodation options from hotel and motels to boutique bed and breakfasts to farm stays. Your hosts will not only be hospitable and welcoming but you will also be treated to their wealth of knowledge about the area and other 'must do' attractions and events in the area. No doubt, one of these recommendations will be to visit Hobbiton, not only for Lord of the Rings fans, this enchanting place is bound to capture the imagination of young and old, and offers a great family day out. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a magical afternoon.