Experience the Thrill of Black Water Rafting in Waitomo, New Zealand

Waitomo's black water rafting is one of the most anticipated activities on New Zealand's North Island. The highlight of Waitomo is the glowworm caves. To see the glowworms, you can take a boat tour, or opt for the 3-hour or 5-hour black water rafting experience, which includes both rafting and glowworm viewing. Most people choose the 3-hour tour, which includes jumping, rafting, and climbing waterfalls. The 5-hour tour adds vertical abseiling and zip-lining, which were particularly appealing to me. Each group has a maximum of 8 people, but on our day, it was just the two of us and two strong guides leading the way. The entire process includes gearing up, driving to the cave entrance, practicing abseiling techniques, descending into the cave, zip-lining, jumping into the water, rafting, walking in the water, sliding, more walking, climbing waterfalls, exiting the cave, forest hiking, returning to the base, and finally, cleaning up. The actual time spent in the cave is about two hours, possibly due to the small group size, but it was incredibly exhausting. The water is icy cold, and in some places, it's so deep you can only float on a tire or hold onto ropes along the cave walls. The latter part of the hike is uneven, and I fell twice. When jumping into the water, I even swallowed some. The guides provide sweet cookies and hot chocolate to keep your energy up. The glowworms aren't densely packed but are visible throughout the cave. The most magical moment was zip-lining in complete darkness, with no sense of direction, and looking up to see a sky full of glowworms. It was truly a surreal experience. During one part of the rafting, the guide pulled the tire forward while I lay back, gazing at the glowworms above, feeling like I was drifting through the vast universe. My friend suddenly remarked that at the bottom of this cave, no one would know we were here, which broke my composure and, combined with the cold, made me feel a bit scared. The cave temperature is around ten degrees Celsius, and they provide waterproof suits and full gear. You only need to wear a swimsuit underneath. Wearing too much won't keep you warm and will add weight when wet. You will get wet, so just enjoy the experience. After rafting, there's a place to take a hot shower, but no toiletries are provided, so bring your own. There's no hairdryer either, and humorously, a note by the mirror reads, "Hair still wet? Second time half price," which is quite cheeky. You can't bring your phone along, but the guides take photos, which cost about 40 NZD to purchase, including personal and official photos. However, the guides' photography skills leave much to be desired. The cost is about 1200 RMB per person. Overall, it's fun and exhausting, but I probably wouldn't do it again. #Rafting #SummerWaterActivities #Glowworms #GlowwormCaves #NewZealandTravel #WaitomoGlowwormCaves