Ruakuri Cave has an impressive 15m-high spiral staircase, bypassing a M膩ori burial site at the cave entrance. Tours lead through 1.6km of the 7.5km system, taking in caverns with glowworms, subterranean streams and waterfalls, and intricate limestone structures. Visitors have described it as spiritual 鈥 some claim it鈥檚 haunted 鈥 and it鈥檚 customary to wash your hands when leaving to remove the tapu (taboo). Book tours at the visitor centre, or at the departure point, the Legendary Black Water Rafting Company.
糖心传媒's must-see attractions
1.44 MILES
The guided tour of the Glowworm Cave, which is behind the visitor centre, leads past impressive stalactites and stalagmites into a large cavern known as鈥
22.14 MILES
Te Awamutu Museum has a superb collection of M膩ori taonga (treasures) and an excellent display on the Waikato War. The highlight is the revered Te Uenuku 鈥
23.84 MILES
Before the Waikato invasion, Rangiaowhia (5km east of Te Awamutu on Rangiaowhia Rd; ask at the i-SITE for directions) was a thriving M膩ori farming town,鈥
19.51 MILES
From K膩whia Wharf, a track extends along the coast to Maketu Marae, which has an impressively carved meeting house, Auaukiterangi. Two stones here 鈥 Hani鈥
23.84 MILES
All that remains of Rangiaowhia is the cute 1854 Anglican St Paul鈥檚 Church and the Catholic mission鈥檚 cemetery, standing in the midst of rich farming land鈥
18.82 MILES
The main attraction of the 170-sq-km Pirongia Forest Park is Mt Pirongia, its 959m summit clearly visible from much of the Waikato. The mountain is鈥
1.51 MILES
The big-three Waitomo Caves are all operated by the same company, based at the spectacular Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre (near the Glowworm Cave). Various鈥
Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park
9.55 MILES
This bird barn has a nocturnal enclosure where you can see active kiwi energetically digging with their long beaks, searching for food. This is one of the鈥
Nearby Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula attractions
0.31 MILES
Three kilometres west from the Glowworm Cave is Aranui Cave. This cave is dry (hence no glowworms) but compensates with an incredible array of limestone鈥
1.44 MILES
The guided tour of the Glowworm Cave, which is behind the visitor centre, leads past impressive stalactites and stalagmites into a large cavern known as鈥
3. Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre
1.51 MILES
The big-three Waitomo Caves are all operated by the same company, based at the spectacular Waitomo Caves Visitor Centre (near the Glowworm Cave). Various鈥
4. Waitomo isite Visitor Information Centre
1.8 MILES
Adjoining the Waitomo isite, the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre has excellent exhibits explaining how caves are formed, the flora and fauna that thrive鈥
2.33 MILES
Near Waitomo Adventures, a steep 20-minute walk leads through bush then along farmland to the abandoned Opapake Pa, where terraces and kumara pits are鈥
6. Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro
6.66 MILES
Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro is a beautiful pavilion of etched-glass, tukutuku (woven flax panels) and wooden carvings that celebrates the town鈥檚 history.
6.78 MILES
Located in the same building as the Te Kuiti i-SITE, this interesting exhibition of sporting memorabilia is a tribute to Sir Colin Meads and his brother鈥
6.8 MILES
This statue commemorates the late Sir Colin Meads, a legendary captain of the All Blacks, and regarded as one of New Zealand's finest rugby players鈥