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Arrived in Rotorua from Taupo today, via Waitomo, to do the Black Water Rafting, in the Ruakuri Caves. We had a horribly early start again (got up at 6, after getting up at 5 yesterday!) and were picked up by our bus 20 minutes late! It took 3 hours to get to Waitomo, and we were dropped off at the centre. We were originally going to the 'Black Abyss' (I kind or regret not doing it now..) but the idea of being in the cave for 2.5 hours and the things you did scared me a little, so we decided to do the Black Labyrinth instead, but saved our selves quite a bit! It took an age to get into our wetsuits, and once we were finally geared up, in our lovely outfits (the boots looked like oompa loompa boots!) we set off in the bus to the caves. We had to each get a tube - a ring shaped floating decive - and had to do a practice jump into the river, as if we were in the caves. The water was so cold! Once we'd all done that we went into the caves, through an unvelievably small entrance, which you can't even tell is there! Waited for everyone to get in the cave and then set off. Water flows throughout the whole cave and the current was quite strong, it took your feet with you, and all the lighting we had was our head torches it was quite tricky manouvering around rocks! We got to our first 'waterfall' and had to jump backwards in our rings, into the blackness! We floated along a bit, and then all had to link up by holding the person behind you's feet. We then all turned off our lamps and looked up and saw all the glow worms, which are an amazing greeny colour. They aren't actually 'worms' at all, but maggots..nice! But as we went through the caves there were thousands of them and it was just beautiful, even though they are so tiny, they give off quite a lot of light! We had to jump down another waterfall, and then had to find our way back in the dark to the exit of the cave following the worms on the ceiling as they are only above water! We had hot showers once we were out and complimentary soup, so that was good! We had quite a lot of time on our hands after that, and as it was such a nice sunny day Arthur and I just sat in the park and had a nap! We then caught the bus again and arrived in Rotorua a few hours ago. There's so much to do here, it's a shame we only have time for 2 nights! But we can fit in a lot to one day!
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