Description: With unusual-sounding tour options like, "TuMu TuMu ToObing" or "Haggas Honking Holes" you might wonder what you are getting into when you book with Waitomo Adventures (http://www.waitomo.co.nz/). I can't speak for all of the adventure options they offer but I can definitely recommend the 4 hour, 100 m "Lost World" abseil adventure. I did it, I loved it and I recommend it to anyone fit and healthy enough to enjoy the experience.
In booking this adventure, I had been promised a "magical" and unique experience: the abseil is twice as high as all the other Waitomo caverns. I was cautious (i) I'm a bit afraid of heights and (ii) it cost $225 (check website for current pricing). But I came to experience and I didn't want to miss this opportunity. I'm so glad I decided to partake. The 100 m rappel is gentle (to quote the company's advertising) and pretty awe-inspiring. You get the feeling that not everyone has seen *this* part of New Zealand. There were glow-worms in the cave that we crawled through (though they do pale (pun intended) in comparison to the Blackwater caves glow worms which I enjoyed on my Black Water Rafting Co. tour. Emphasis on this Lost World trip is definitely on the abseil portion of the day: sunlight streaking from above as you slowly drop yourself down into the dark and prehistoric feeling cave below. What they *don't* advertise in the brochure, of course, is that what goes down must also come up - and there is a 100 ft. vertical ladder climb to get back out of the cave. It's metal and in September, was a freezing cold, arm-breaking-off-due-to-fatigue climb. Truthfully, the ladder portion, from my perspective, was terrible. Scary and painful. The combination of muscle fatigue and frigid metal - I thought I would fall for sure...which of course, may be melodrama since I didn't and I'm here to tell the tale. I have to take away one star for this reason (the ladder) but it's still a great way to spend $200 and 4 hours of your time and it is worth it nonetheless!
They don't allow photography which is annoying but they conveniently (ahem) provide a photo service, meaning they will take your picture for you and offer you a package you can buy at the end of the day. Obviously you will want to purchase this because you will feel extremely proud of your extreme athletic prowess and will want proof of your accomplishment. Don't expect too much: my photos were of fairly poor quality but at least I have them to keep.
Other important points: that you will need a certain level of fitness to complete this adventure but my guide was helpful and instructive and you need no abseiling experience whatsoever.
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