Wetsuits and glow worms

So after a great nice in a super cute place, we did a "Black Water Rafting" trip in the Waitomo Caves.

They get you all suited up in wetsuits, rubber boots and helmets with headlamps. It was so funny the guide giving us instructions on how to get the wetsuits on and how they are supposed to fit - he gave us a little chat on not tee tee-ing in your wetsuit - hahaha, I don't know why that cracks me up - but the fact that 12 adults are being told not to pee in their pants is just hysterical to me - but it reminded me of a similar conversation the TNT triathletes have the day I hand out wetsuits :)

So then you get a tube and you're off! You start off by walking down into the cave and it is SO dark and FREEZING!! I kept bumping my head on the stalagmites (don't know how to spell that??) that hang down from the rock...good thing for helmets. Once we got to deeper water, you get in your tube and float through the cave. At one point, everyone turns off their headlight and you look up to the ceiling of the cave and there are TONS of glow worms!! They just light up the whole ceiling - it was so incredible!! I was just giggling in amazement - it was unreal! We also jumped off a few waterfalls and did all sorts of fun stuff in there. Poor Jessie was completely numb from head to toe so I think she was happy when we saw the light at the end of the tunnel - sunshine has never felt so good!

The glow worm caves are a definite must do!

From Waitomo we drove back to Wakapappa Village - we came here last week to try and do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing but it got snowed out :( So fingers crossed we will be able to go tomorrow!!!! The forecast is looking fine right now - but we are at a pretty high altitude so you never know with the weather!!

So tomorrow we will do the Tongariro Crossing and then we are driving back to Auckland to prepare to come home!!

We are having dinner with Robyn - remember her? She is the Kiwi who invited us in for tea our first day in NZ when we were wondering around like jet lagged zombies in the park! She is SOO sweet and we are really excited to have dinner with her family and tell her all about our travels.

We also have some major cleaning up of Queen Charlotte to do...we have driven her literally to every corner of New Zealand, used her as a suitcase, a dining room - lots of on the road lunches, ole Queenie has been good to us and now we have to give her a good wash and vacuum and turn her in - tear :(

And of course we want to have enough time to do one last day of shopping :) I have become a souvenir junkie and Jessie is the same as always just loves those clothes - so we have to get that done with before we board the plane on Friday night!

I will write again before we go - but I just want to say - that New Zealand exceeded all my expectations - it is an INCREDIBLE place! You all must come - and I will come back with you :)

Love,
Alley