Oh boy oh boy what a weekend! Now, I know a lot of you have heard of and have been White Water Rafting but have you ever heard of or been Black Water Rafting?!? Well, neither had I until this weekend... So to define black water rafting; it is consisted of carefully climbing down and through many steep and slick rocks while also trudging through fast flowing water and then sitting in a tube that properly fits your hiney to float down many narrow passageways that are surrounded by rocks and glowworms in 40 degree water 65 meters below the ground.... *takes deep breath* YES!!
After, we went for a hike down the road from our cabin and trekked through so much mud my shoes were no longer black. It was a great walk through many trees and the trail was lined with limestones that stacked as high as 20 feet. We crossed over 2 bridges that led us to an open pasture where larger limestones rested in various places. After we were all soaked with mud and dew from the grass, we trekked back the same way we came and ventured on to some other random places in the area.
3:30pm. Show time. We arrived at the lodge just before 3:30pm where we met our guides for the adventure. We were led to the changing station where we were given 5mm wetsuits and booties as well as boots to go over them. Penguin status. We suited up and were all too excited for what lay ahead.
We hopped in the van that led us to our first stop- jump training. We each grabbed a tube that fit our hinies and then lined up to take the leap from the boardwalk. One by one we tucked ourselves into the tube and went butt first into the 40 degree water below. Pretty sure I was shocked out of any sense of feeling as soon as the water hit my skin and definitely had more water splash up my nose than any other person there. Pro. We then climbed out a bit down the stream. Training was over. We loaded up in the van again and heading for the caves.
We walked down a short trail that led us to a hole in the ground with stones for steps that guided us into the mountain's side. Down down down we went with waterfalls pouring out all around us until we reached a wide opening that we all piled into and the guides explained to us how to get through the next part of the cave. We turned our head lights on and filed through the narrow and low walls of the cave. Water rushed around our ankles with every step, trying its best to knock us over. Good thing we had gripped boots on that kept us from slipping and sliding, though they did not save us from the random holes scattered along the cave floor. Immense stalactites hung from the roof, forcing us to crouch low to the ground in many areas of the cave. Other passages were so narrow that many people had to turn sideways and suck in. After about 30 minutes we reached our first waterfall. Just as we had practiced, we turned around, stuck the tube to our rear-ends and jumped back. Again water flooded my face and my wetsuit but it wasn't as bad the practice jump, thank God. We floated along for about 15 meters and piled back out to continue along the cave on foot.
We paused single file in one long passageway where we were told to turn off our headlights and look up. And there they were. Sprinkled across the ceiling stuck millions of glowworms that lit up the roof of the cave like stars on a moonless night.
The tour guides explained to us that a glowworm is the larvae stage in the lifecycle of a two-winged insect. It grows as long as a matchstick and looks a bit like a maggot. A glowworm uses its glow to attract food and to burn off its waste. It's tail glows because of bioluminescence. Insects fly towards the light and get stuck in the sticky lines that the glowworm hangs down to catch food. Glowworms also use their glow to put other creatures off eating them (from the Black Labyrinth Tour's website). You can read all of this and more on the tour's website at www.waitomo.com/Waitomo-glow-worm.aspx
We went on through a few more passages as the sound of water falling became louder with every step. We had reached it. Our second waterfall jump, the largest of the two. Everyone lined up once more, clung to our tubes, and one at a time fell the 5 meters down into the bone chilling water. I think I had more water in my nose than in my boots by the last drop. After the leap, we were told to hold onto the rope drilled into place along the wall of the cave. Then, everyone put their feet under the person's arms in front of them (called an eel) and we were off! We all turned off our lights and drifted along, admiring the glowworms glittering above. I felt like I was floating through space, a universe full of stars and gravity could not overcome me. The drift lasted around 15 minutes, some people sang and told jokes while others relaxed and sat back to enjoy the show. It was all too surreal and electric as the dream came to an end. We climbed out of the cave, leaving our dream world 65 meters below with many smiles.
We rode the van back to base and were very happy to be greeted with warm towels and hot showers. We were treated with tasty Tomato Soup that heated our bodies up with every sip.
We all headed back to our cabin and got ready to go out and watch the All Blacks play at the local pub. The group that had gone on the same tour as us was also at the pub and we all were able to reminisce over the day's blessings. It was a wonderful day and night and I cannot wait to plan my next adventure!
Thank you for reading :) til next week!
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