Glow Worm Caves and Rotorua 2 Day Discovery-Double

DAY 1
Setting off from the pier, you’ll take a 3 hour journey towards the Waikato River Valley. Admire the city as you pass through Auckland’s downtown commercial centre before travelling along the southern motorway. You’ll pass by the suburbs and over the Bombay Hills, descending into the Waikato River Valley, following the course of the river through the fertile farmlands of the region. Arrive in Kio Kio, where the delightful Crosshills Farm is located to enjoy a delicious home-cooked buffet lunch.
Next, your journey will take you to the highlight of your day, the Waitomo Caves. Here, you’ll venture underground on a fabulous guided walk through the Waitomo Glow-Worm Caves, passing striking limestone formations including the ‘organ’ and the lofty chamber called the ‘cathedral’. You’ll reach a jetty on a lake deep underground, and step into a non-motorised longboat for perhaps the most intriguing part of your adventure, a ride in complete silence on an underground river. You’ll arrive at a cavern spangled with the radiant blue and green bioluminescent lights of millions of tiny glow worms. The worms are very sensitive to sound, and will extinguish their lights as soon as they sense the slightest noise. This eerie and captivating experience is unique and memorable.
Afterwards, your journey will continue across the farming district of Waipa, passing Lake Karapiro. The countryside becomes increasingly rugged as the road climbs over the densely forested Mamaku Hills to Rotorua. Arrive in Rotorua and check into the Novotel Lakeside Rotorua, where you’ll have the opportunity for some free time to freshen up before your evening excursion.
At the designated time, you’ll regroup and take a drive to the Tamaki Maori Village, a cultural venue that has been designed to offer an insight into the Maori way of life. Upon arrival, enjoy a traditional welcome ceremony, followed by a colourful Maori performance. A delicious meal will be served in the Maori ‘hangi’ style which includes ‘hangi’ baskets laden with seasonal meats and vegetables pulled from a pit. As the evening draws to an end, listen to a farewell song and speeches, before returning to your hotel.
DAY 2
After your hotel buffet breakfast and check out, your day will begin with a short drive to the Te Puia Thermal Reserve. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a Maori guide for a fascinating tour through the thermal area to see the bubbling mud pools, springs and geysers. A visit will also be made at the Maori Arts Institute, where you’ll be immersed in Maori culture as the various features are explained whilst you watch the Maori carvers and weavers at work.
Leaving Te Puia, you’ll embark on the 3 hour return journey to Auckland, with the opportunity to admire the surrounding countryside once again. En route, a stop will be made for lunch at Longlands Farm, which offers a unique combination of a working farm and country- style restaurant, set amongst a garden of lavender and roses. After lunch, continue across the Hauraki Plain and sit back and reflect on your 2 day discovery, before rejoining Arcadia.