Table of Contents
Just beneath the Waitomo Hills of the North Island lies a maze of caves, sinkholes, and underground streams; this magnificent web of caves is commonly termed as Waitomo Caves. The entire cave network has been carved out by underwater streams over the span of thousands of years. The illuminated cave walls further add to the eternal beauty of Waitomo. These beautiful cave walls are embellished by galaxies of native glow worms. Note that though the Waitomo caves comprise of more than 300 unique caves, the most renowned ones are the Glowworm, Ruakuri, and Aranui.
Origin of the Word “Waitomo”: The word “Waitomo” is a combination of two Maori words- “Wai” and “Tomo”; “Wai” refers to water while “Tomo” refers to a hole.
The simplest way to experience the best of Waitomo Caves is either through a small guided walk or a boat tour. But anyhow, Waitomo Caves always has something more to offer to its visitors. That said, if you are an adventure seeker, you must try the unique experience of blackwater rafting-A special adventurous activity which allows the visitors to crawl, swim and even float through the caves in a thin black rubber tube. Nonetheless, there is as much to explore above the ground, as below.