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So the bus journey really was our worst nightmare. We had to give up having our own row of seats as it was packed! Full of really smelly people for some reason as the air-con didn't work so it was like a sauna. Had to change at the first stop into my pyjamas as they were cooler.
All in all over the 8 hours on the coach I maybe got 3 hours of dozing and luckily as we arrived into the isite and asked the driver where our hostel was he nicely offered to drop us outside. The smell of sulphur is quite strong when you first step outside the bus!
At Base Hostel we checked in and headed to the room, fully prepared to be so quiet not to wake everyone as it was 3am. Open the door and much to our surprise is a big double bed in a private room - jackpot!!
We quickly climbed into bed and got 2 hours of sleep before we were up again and off to the Waitomo Caves.
We quickly had Nutella on bread and then waited outside for our transport. It wasn't long before a little green minivan pulled in and the driver (David) informed us we were the only ones.
The drive took 2 hours and along route David provided us with lots of interesting information about the place - our own little sightseeing trip!
We pulled into the first place to check in and then soon hopped back on the van to the Waitomo Cave entrance. We met up with our guide Trev and then headed down the dark steps into the cave.
We were shown the various rock formations and the cathedral and then hopped onto a boat. Here we sailed into even darker territory and before long the entire ceiling was covered in glow worms! It was like the stars you used to have on your ceiling as a child only better and more beautiful.
Once out the cave we waited for another guide who was to take us to the Ruakuri Caves. Here you descend down a tall spiral pathway till you reach the bottom, then through some bunker like doors and eventually you reach the most amazing cave formations and steams running through the caves.
When we finally came back up the sun really hurt our eyes and I had to wear sunglasses for 15 minutes after till they readjusted to day light!
Back to the place we checked in where we had 45 minutes before Dave would be there to collect us so we shared a plate of nachos and chilli.
Once back on the minivan it was 2 hours back to Rotorua, goodbye to Dave and then pop to the shops to pick up dinner.
By this point exhaustion due to lack of sleep had kicked in and dinner consisted of wraps made in our room, a quick face scrub and mask (made of Rotorua mud) and then by 7 I was passed out!
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