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Waitomo Caves

Lost World, Waitomo - click for more.
Waitomo is a subterranean adventure playground - a world beneath the world.
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Below the hilly green pastures of the Waitomo region is a subterranean limestone landscape of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. Once, many millions of years ago, this land was beneath the sea. The limestone was formed by the remains of marine animals, then boosted to the surface by tectonic activity. The name Waitomo comes from the Maori words wai (water) and tomo (hole).

The hundreds of caves in this region have been carved out of the limestone by underground streams. Many of the caves have amazing speleotherms created as water seeps through the limestone to drip off the cave ceilings. Stalactites grow down from the ceiling and stalagmites grow up from the cave floor. If they join together they are called columns or pillars and where they spiral around they are called helicti.

Some caves also have stunning glowworm displays. The New Zealand glowworm (Arachnocampa luminosa) is the larval stage of a flying insect. Its bright blue light attracts tiny flying insects into a curtain of sticky threads.

Above ground you can see fascinating layered limestone rock forms. A walkway that beings opposite the Waitomo Museum of Caves leads through farmland where you'll see sculptured rocks and strange fluted outcrops.

There are various ways to see the sights below the ground. You can walk through some of the caves along well formed paths and stairways. Others present you with the challenge of abseiling, followed by a classic caving experience complete with headlamp. You can also crawl, swim and float through caves – an experience known as 'blackwater rafting'.
 


 
WAIKATO Region


Contact Details

Contact: Waitomo i-SITE Visitor Centre
Phone: +64 7 8787 640
Fax: +64 7 8786 184
Postal: PO Box 12 Waitomo Caves New Zealand

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Waitomo Caves is the closest town to this highlight.

In Waitomo Caves:

Other towns near Waitomo Caves by road:

Other towns near Waitomo Caves by rail:

Waitomo Caves does not have any rail stations.

The nearest rail station is in Otorohanga (14 minutes)

Other towns near Waitomo Caves by air:

Waitomo Caves does not have scheduled passenger air services.

The nearest airport is in Hamilton (67 minutes)

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