We embark on a day of exploration along the Whanganui River on kayak’s and go for a hike near and around the Ruakuri Caves, another glorious day, the weather is being very kind to us so far.

Next on the Agenda was kayaking, some of our team cannot swim and I just think it is so brave getting into a Kayak in the hope your life jacket holds you up. Martina decided to walk and took a lot of the pictures as was too nervous to get in.

This was an area of holiday baches pronounced batch that’s holiday homes to you and me and we are clearly here is peak season, some of the homes and facilities were truly decadent. We all get into the kayaks and take off for a very leisurely jont up the lake and into the above river that flows into it, the waters are so warm, millpond like and gorgeous, we get an opportunity to pull in and go for a swim at the half way mark. I thought I was seeing things at first, there were floating rocks which turn out to be pieces of lava rock and some very substantial pieces floating. There were a few jokes re watching out for the floater… you get the drift excuse the pun!

You really wouldn’t have noticed you were kayaking against the current on the way there, however, when we turned back we literally had little to do until we entered the main lake again bar steer and gently paddle.

On towards Waitomo, where thousands of years of natural forces have carved out awe inspiring limestone caves and passages. This underground wonderland is renowned for their amazing array of glowworms which light up cave ceilings like a starry night, creating a magical setting to enjoy.

I choose to go caving, another challenge! I have mild claustrophobia so I am very nervous about abseiling down to the underground of caves and crawling thought very tight tunnels, the thought of being trapped down there, getting lost, the battery to my light running out etc are high on my scaredy cat list atm! 5 of us choose to have a go! Fio, aka Lara Croft put’s on her luck “Sexy Ass” socks and as you can see she has a fine Ass to match lol 🙂

We get some training on the roping, abseiling techniques and off we go, dear Lord what the heck am I doing?

Mission Accomplished: I did enjoy this, however, I was glad to be back out in the daylight and air and I am not sure I would rush back to do his again. There was abseiling through the waterfalls, climbing up shear faces, abseiling generally, belly scrambling through water and low rock -less than 2 feet in height I reckon – first time in my life I felt a little like a marine, my forearm, belly down and leg push scramble – turns out this came very naturally to me or was it the incentive of getting the heck through this as quickly as possible……..hmmm either way I can scramble (not sure what the proper description is, you get my drift)

Tonight is our last meal together as only 8 of us are going on to the South Island, the rest are either going back to work, travelling on as have all ready done the South Island or have other things planned. Even James our guide gets up a dinner and says that this group have been such a pleasure to be around and have been so kind and thoughtful to each other, looked out for each other etc and that has been so true, I feel so lucky to have spent the last 8 days with such nice humans. We are going to the glow worm caves in the morning, very early start, and then all go to the Auckland Int Airport and in my case and 7 others we are Christchurch bound, still we all celebrated our week together in the usual fashion and there were some very quiet people including myself on the bus the following morning.

We arrive at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and the mood is a bit somber, and we take a boat ride through this spectacular underground realm and see thousands of flickering glow worms light up in the dark. Joel is our guide, this is his family’s business and he guides us down and through the caves to a boat which he guides through the water, there are ropes suspended in which he pulls and guides us along, it is truly spectacular and has either a night sky vibe or Christmas feel to it. The glow worms are really pupae and dangle threads down in the hope of catching eg a fly or insect, it will then draw them up and eat it, they typically catch 3 in the pupae phase and then emerge as a fly with no ability to eat and it’s sole purpose is to mate, lay eggs and die all within 48 hours. The glow worm will emerge as a female if there are no others about and if there is they will emerge as a male with the purpose of mating and then their job is done!

We leave here and head to the airport – I am truly grateful to this lovely group of people and as we wish the leavers well with heavy hearts we are hopeful the new joiners will be just a nice. See you in Singapore Barbara :-).

On a closing note James our CEO and guide we have been so lucky what a lovely lovely human you are, and whatever person that gets you as a life partner will be the luckiest person on earth. So well informed, so patient and so kind. Thank you, you completed us a as a team. Xxx