Waitomo and Rotorua
Waitomo is the area of New Zealand famous for its Gloworm Caves and a key stop off on the Kiwi Experience. One of the activities Charlotte decided to take part in during her visit was the “Black Water Rafting”; this adventure had you exploring and tubing through the mysterious Ruakuri Cave whilst gliding under magical glow worms and jumping over waterfalls. There are two options offered through the Kiwi Experience; Black Abyss and Black Labyrinth and considering the prices I decided to go for the cheaper option of Black Labyrinth, which meant two hours in the caves rather than five. This experience was a wild adventure, and for anyone who doesn’t mind small spaces and is looking to do something a little different, I would definitely recommend it.
Whilst in Rotorua another key activity the Kiwi Experience offers is a visit to the Tamaki Maori Village with the option of a day visit or an overnight stay. We went for the overnight stay, this night involved stepping into a native Tawa forest to learn the rituals, stories and history of the Maori culture. During the overnight stay you witness traditional ceremonies and powerful performances of song and dance. Along with this you are also treated to a traditional Maori feast which included roast lamb followed by pavlova; having not had a roast in so long this was a big treat! We really enjoyed this experience, however having previously spent time in Columbia with the Kuna tribe on this trip, this was a totally different experience. The Maori culture is deeply embedded throughout New Zealand and the people are very proud of it, however in contrast to the more primitive and wildly different lifestyle of the Kuna Yala tribe, Maori culture is more based on traditions surrounding family and performances. The tribesmen and women that we met were far more similar to us and most of them had day jobs and families housed nearby. That said, we would say that if you're looking for an authentic experience then maybe this is the one for you.
Along with the visit to Waitomo another experience highly worth doing is the visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set near Rotorua. This filmset is the only remaining movie set in New Zealand and gives visitors the opportunity to see a landscape that has now been recognised around the world. The shire houses 44 hobbit holes, surrounded by gardens and orchids. At the end of this mystical tour you are even offered the chance to have a pint at the Green Dragon, which those who have watched the films will consider a true luxury. There is a real mix of people there; some haven’t even watched the films, I personally had only watched it once, and then of course there are the Lord of the Rings fanatics who have come to New Zealand especially for this. In fact one person in our tour insisted on taking his shoes off to really get into the character of being a Hobbit… Anyhow the opportunity to stroll down idyllic lanes amidst cottage flowers with the scent of honeysuckle lingering in the air is an absolute treat.
