While in Waitomo, I visited the Glowworm Caves and Spectacular Aranui Caves.

Glowworm Caves

We first enter the cave from the dry upper level. It's a beautiful cave formed 30 millions years ago. There are plenty of beautiful pancake rocks, stalagtites, stalagmites and other cave decoration.

We then go down to the Cathedral chamber which is 14m high and 37m long. A few people had there marriage celebrated here. The guide asked if anyone wanted to sing and as there were no volunteer, she sang a beautiful Maori song. Her voice was filling the cave magically.

We then get to an area were the sticky feeding lines of the glowworms are visible thanks to a temporary lightning.

The glowworm is the laval stage of a two winged insect that emits a light to attract food. Named 'Arachnocampa Luminosa' it's a glowworm unique to New Zealand.

We then go onto a small boat and we silently marvel beneath the light of the thousands of glowworms. Only the gentle sound of dripping water reminds you that you are deep underground and not beneath a star filled sky.

Aranui Caves

Located in Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, Aranui is a dry cave. There is only one entrance to Aranui and without a river flowing through it houses very little life past the entrance.

Aranui is famous for its beautiful arrays of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and unusual formations.

We first have a look at some cave Wetas:

The Cathedral Majestic:

Old Maori Woman:

Straw Stalactites:

Temple of Peace:

The Rimstone Pool (notice the red pigment due to volcanic stones):

Here is one of the largest stalactites in the world estimated to be 2.5 tonnes and 6 metres long:

A cave pillar,

The Grumpy Snow White:

And finally the Eastern Scene in Aladdin cave:

We really enjoyed exploring this secret world!