If you are anything like me and it takes adventure sports to press your right buttons, then get ready to embark on the trip of a lifetime. With sky diving, caving, bungee jumping, kayaking, hiking, canyoning and all other adventure activities in the fray, New Zealand is surely worth a visit.
Set in the backdrop of its jaw-dropping landscapes are the famous Waitomo Caves that provide world-class facilities for blackwater rafting. This experience proved to be the highlight of my trip to this part of the world.
- Ianz / Foter.com / CC BY-SA
Blackwater rafting in the Waitomo Caves- New Zealand has always attracted adventure seekers like me from across the globe. It succeeded in providing the highest levels of thrill and adrenalin rush.
Blackwater rafting in NZ refers to spelunking with an inner tube and helps you ride an underground river. As the water in these regions lingers in the range of 50 degrees F, you need to don a wetsuit that goes right down to your booties.
Waitomo Caves is located at a distance of two and a half hours and can be reached by hiring the facilities of reputed car rental companies. As a part of a group of excited youngsters looking forward to the delights of blackwater rafting in the Waitomo Caves- New Zealand, we looked forward to hours of adventurous fun. And, we weren’t disappointed. With the world class facilities of well maintained rental cars at disposal, our adventure trip was a memorable one.
After a memorable drive that takes you to the southern precincts of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island, we came up to a group of 300 odd caves that undermine the limestone hills in the background and scenic terrains beyond. These caves are immaculately carved by underground water sources –that include subterranean rivers large enough to create mammoth waterfalls.
While exploring the area, we also took a relatively less adventurous ride to the glow worm caves. The top of most New Zealand’s caves are covered with millions of glow worms that look like a bit of clear jelly and are no wider than your thumb. These insects spin small strands of web—just like spiders and catch insects attracted by their luminescence and those blown into the caves on air currents. These caves require a short amount of walking and provide education on the formation of stalactites and stalagmites.
If you are more adventurous than the lot, then try abseiling or descending into the caves with a long rope attached to your inner tube. Just remember to choose a bright and sunny day for your escapades, as it can get too dingy and grim on rainy or cloudy days.
Author: Sandep Dahiya is blogger who writes about a variety of things including travel, cars and motorcycles. Recently he hired a car in New Zealand from Hertz and drive around the New Zealand. You can follow him on twitter @sandepdahiya