Our port of call was Auckland,
but we spent the day traveling to the Waitomo Glow Worm Grotto. Although, the bus ride was very long, the
driver was very interesting and it was pleasant riding through the rolling
hills that makes up so much of the north island of New Zealand. There are so many dairy farms and sheep farms
and with this season being spring, so many calves and lambs. It is lovely to see them out in the
fields. 
We arrived at the Waitomo Caves
and it was time for our tour to start.
We walked down several steps into the cave and saw many wondrous shapes
of mineral deposits that make up the ‘mites and ‘tites in this grotto and then
it was time. There was no light as we
turned the corner and after crouching down to look under the rocks, there they
were hundreds of tiny lights. The little
glow worms. Of course we weren’t
allowed to take any photos inside the cave, so the visual memory will have to
endure.
We were taken to a boat launch in
the dark, and once seated aboard this large idea of a rowboat, we were taken
around the underground lake by an overhead rope system that our guide used to
steer us silently around this large space.
All above us were millions of tiny glow worms – truly, a magical
fairyland.What a great experience.  |
| Ice Bowl for Missing ice Cream |
Afterwards, we stopped at a farm
house for a magnificent lunch. The owner
had cooked a most amazing meat loaf and what I’m sure was a whole joint of lamb
accompanied by a kiwi and mint sauce for the lamb and a pickle for the
meatloaf, rosemary roasted potatoes, salad and fresh bread. How delicious. For desert, there was ice cream served in a
frozen bowl made of ice and surrounded by flowers from her beautiful
garden. An idea I will try to remember. Then after a bit more picture taking it was
time to leave for the ship. The ride
seemed much shorter, but I think it was cause I was sleeping most of the way.
2 comments:
Your description of the cave was so much fun to read. The trip hasn't changed a bit from my adventure fifty years ago! Great to think that it is all being looked after so well. Driving along the roads in New Zealand is not a chore at all as you mention because there are always forests/bush land , fields and terrain that are constantly changing. The sheep in their paddocks as well as the cattle certainly decorate the spaces well and it is easy on a return trip though these pastoral scenes to drift off - probably from unconsciously counting sheep!
Please April, can I have some more?
What an experience!! Never mind the worms, that meal of lamb with kiwi/mint and the rest of it are what caught my attention!
Seriously, you are a super travel guide. Love to you both!
Post a Comment