Most popular - (views)
los_cabos - (2829)
waitomo - (1662)
anahola_hawaii - (1509)
bendigo - (946)
hierapolis - (922)
rangiroa - (885)
kadavu_islands - (528)
easter_island - (522)
sun_city - (522)
antelope_canyon - (480)
schwangau - (391)
tahiti - (358)
tyneham - (307)
petra_jordan - (218)
halong_bay - (202)
machu_picchu - (155)
venice - (133)
hauterives - (105)
Ads
Waitomo, New Zealand
| Location | Waitomo, New Zealand | Date | December 22, 2009 | Views | 1662 |
| Source | waitomo.com; youtube.com | Rate | |||
 |
About Waitomo
The Waitomo District, encompassing the main town and service centre of Te Kuiti and the townships of Waitomo, Mokau, PioPio, Awakino, Marokapa and Benneydale amongst others, is home to around 9,700 people. The prosperous local economy is built around tourism, farming, mining and forestry. Waitomo is amongst New Zealand's most tranquil areas, with one of the country's lowest population densities of just 2.7 people per square kilometre compared to the national average of 14.1. This relative solitude makes the Waitomo District a wonderful place to spread one's wings and shake off everyday urban frustrations. Whether your recreational interests extend to the wildly adventurous or just the ever-so-gently relaxing, a visit to Waitomo will leave you feeling refreshed and very much alive. Waitomo AttractionsWorld renowned and a magnet for both local and overseas visitors, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves occupy a high placing in almost everyones New Zealand vacation wish-list. The Waitomo glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as our expert guides provide informative commentary on the Caves' historical and geological significance. Over your 45 minute guided tour, you'll take in the spectacular Glowworm Cave with its majestic and ornate cave decorations, the deep limestone shaft known as the Tomo and the equally magnificent Cathedral cavern where New Zealands own opera diva Kiri Te Kanawa once performed. Waitomo CavesThere are around 300 known limestone caves that lie beneath the hills of the Waitomo region. Geological and volcanic activity created the caves which have evolved over the last 30 million years.The limestone that visitors see in the Waitomo Glowworm Caves was formed about 30 million years ago when the region was beneath the sea. Limestone is a fossil rock made up of the remains of millions of marine animals, which were broken down by the sea into tiny particles that slowly settled on the seabed. Over millions of years, layer upon layer of these shell particles piled thickly on the seabed and were eventually compacted to create limestone. In some areas of Waitomo the limestone is over 200 metres thick. Waitomo Glowworm Caves Deep underground in the heart of the Waikato are a series of unique caves that will take your breath away. Ruakuri Cave is home to swirling rivers, echoing waterfalls, and rocks that flow into delicate shawl-like formations.
Nearby, at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, thousands of tiny glowworms cling to the cave ceiling, creating a starry sky within the underground night. Youll also see a deep limestone shaft and a soaring subterranean cathedral that will leave you speechless. Just five minutes down the road from the Glowworm Caves is Aranui Cave. With a natural cave entrance, it is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. However, just inside the entrance is a colony of native New Zealand cave wetas and further into the cave is the most beautiful collection of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and decorative formations.Black Water RaftingBlack Labyrinth is a 3 hour cave tubing excursion that calls on you to weave, jump and gently float your way through Ruakuri Caves glow worm lit underworld universe. Black Abyss takes a slightly more vigorous approach to the same underground domain by mixing abseiling, climbing and cave tubing into a physically demanding 5 hour adventure.Kiwi Culture ShowWoodlyn Parks NZ Sheep Shearing Farm Show, near Waitomo Caves is the New Zealand experience of a life time! See our pioneer history combined with a farm show. New Zealand's first Kiwi Culture Show with audience participation, see sheep shearing, bush animals, the kiwi bear and the dancing pig. This show has it all!As the Lonely Planet says "this is one helluv'a show". Hosted by the legendary "Billy Black" or one of his team, will leave you in fits of laughter as you watch or even participate in anything from log sawing & log explosions to helping shear the sheep. Animals from the bush including a kiwi bear and a dancing pig. Farm animals and working sheep dogs on a farming scene complete this unique story.Horse TreksAwesome treks over some of New Zealands most stunning countryside. Magnificent views north to Mt. Pirongia and south to the snow capped Mt. Ruapehu. Enjoy a slow relaxing trek or a fast exhilarating one. Excellent quality gear and horses used.Wildlife ParkLarge picturesque wildlife park set amongst the limestone rocks of Waitomo. There is loads of interaction with 85 different sorts of friendly birds and animals. Children can also enjoy a pony ride. Often baby deer, lambs and calves need bottle feeding. Snacks, refreshments and souvenirs available.VIDEO Waitomo CavesPICTURES Waitomo
|
Waitomo is a Maori word made up of two parts. 'Wai' which translates as water and 'tomo' which means entrance or hole. Waitomo can be translated as the 'stream which flows into the hole in the ground'. This meaning is reflected through its fantastic geological history and landscape, however it also has a rich tourism and cultural history . As a region it is one of New Zealand's original tourist destinations.
