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Rotorua to Waitomo Caves to Auckland
From Rotorua, cross westward over the North Island to Otorohanga and the Waitomo Caves. Be mesmerized by the caves' outcroppings and glow worms then head north to the City of Sails, Auckland. Spend three nights in Auckland.
Saturday, December 15
Driving
Rotorua to Waitomo Caves (Otorohanga)
(Google Maps Driving Directions)
2 hrs 15 min
182 km
Waitomo Caves
The Waitomo Glowworm Cave is a cave on the North Island of New
Proposed Schedule
9:00am Leave Rotorua
11:30am Arrive Waitomo Caves
2:00pm Leave Waitomo Caves
5:00pm Arrive Auckland
Evening Exploration, dinner and
Auckland nightlife
Internet Cafés / Cyber Cafés
LiveWire
First Floor Mid City Complex
239 Queen St
Auckland City
(09) 356.0999
Hi-Tech
41 Victoria St. West CBD
63 Wakefield St. CBD
Auckland
(09) 337.0606
Driving
Waitomo Caves (Otorohanga) to Auckland (Google Maps Driving Directions)
2 hrs 20 min
184 km
Auckland Hotel Info
Rydges Auckland (3 nights)
Corner of Federal & Kingston Streets
Auckland
Telephone: 6493755900
Standard Room
http://www.rydges.com/hotel/0/RZAUCK/Rydges-Auckland.htm
Located just one block from the Sky Tower and Casino complex, the Rydges Auckland is ideally positioned for business and leisure travelers to explore this vibrant city. Just a short stroll to shopping, entertainment and restaurants.
Rydges Auckland has 188 contemporary designer-look guest rooms incorporating the latest in technology with the very best facilities, comfort and congeniality. The hotel has 24-hour room service, reception and concierge, a contemporary and vibrant award winning restaurant and bar, and a gymnasium.
- Internet access: fee-based wired and wireless broadband, Telstra and T-Mobile hot spots in some public areas, in-room modem access
- Parking: Rydges Auckland offers Valet Parking for all its guests. There is a NZ$20.00 surcharge per 24 hours for valet service. Guests can valet their car unlimited amounts of time for the one daily flat fee. Valet parking charges are charged per car.
Zealand, known for its population of glowworms, Arachnocampa luminosa. These glowworms are found exclusively in New Zealand and are about the size of an average mosquito.
The guided tour though the Glowworm Cave takes the visitor through three different levels and begins at the top level of the cave and the Catacombs. The levels are linked by the Tomo, which is a 16 m vertical shaft made of limestone.
The second level is called the Banquet Chamber. This level is where early visitors stopped to eat and there is evidence of this in the smoke on the ceiling of the chamber.
The third and final level goes down into the Cathedral, demonstration platform, and the jetty. The Cathedral is an enclosed area with rough surfaces and is about 18 m high making for great acoustics.
The tour concludes with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. The boat takes the visitor onto the underground Waitomo River where the only light comes from the tiny glowworms creating a sky of living lights.
