Geysers and glowworms

 6am start today. First stop the glowworm caves. We walked through the caves with wonderful limestone stalactite and stalagmite formations which have taken thousands of years to form. We then boarded a boat and drifted slowly through the glowworm caves in absolute silence. It is a magical experience seeing all these hundreds of small blue lights above us. Sadly we could not take photos in the cave or in the boat as this would disturb the glowworms and they would switch off their lights.


Leaving the cave in the boat.

Next stop Rotorua, the main reason I wanted to come to North Island. I wasn't disappointed. It is a fascinating area and the smell of sulphur is so strong. The main geyser erupts about once ever 45 minutes and of course we missed it but there was plenty of steam and mud pools to view.

  

 



We were then treated to a guided tour of the workshops provided for Maori workers using their traditional skills of wood carving, metalwork and weaving.


                
    
                                    
       


This beautiful canoe will hold around 30 people but they did build them big enough to carry up to 175 people.

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