Today we are touring the Waitomo Caves. You get lots of choices for tours- they range from Rambo ratings out of 10 right down to pussy level. Although Mr Fogg would have loved to do the tours that included a 100m abseil, riding rubber tubes through pitch black underground rivers and jumping into waterfalls (Rambo rating 6/10), I’m afraid I bottled and we did the pussy tours(Barbie rating 0/10).

First one is Ruakuri caves which Maori legend says is named after two dogs (rua as in two). The Maori liked the caves and ate the dogs. The caves themselves are pretty good, we walked for about 1.5 hrs and got to see teeny gloworms on the roof of the cave. Very pretty.

Next stop is the main cave where we will get a boat ride in an underground lake. It’s a short tour but the 5 min boat ride at the end is well worth it. A dozen people sitting in silence (well apart from another screaming child) in the dark (which is why said child was screaming) staring up at hundreds of gloworms. Fab, and not a rubber ring or abseil rope in sight.

Apparently Waitomo means in Maori Wai- water and Tomo- tunnel or shaft.

Haha Mr Fogg, some history stuff for you!! And Mr Fogg actually knows a descendant of the people who found the caves. How cool is that?? Such a cool place to visit, but surprisingly very few people around even on a Bank Holiday.

Next stop is the finding decent restaurant food challenge (we failed this last night and ended up with chips, more chips, potato wedges and burnt fish) before we head off to Hobbiton tomorrow to visit Bilbo.

Stay off the roads Frodo!! Wraiths may be about.

[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]