Waitomo Caves

The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The community of Waitomo Caves itself is very small, though the village has many temporary service workers living there as well. The word Waitomo comes from the Māori language wai meaning water and tomo meaning a doline or sinkhole; it can thus be translated to be water passing through a hole. These Caves are believed to be over two million years old.

You have the option of visiting several caves in this region. We visited the famous Waitomo Gloworm Cave and the Ruakuri Cave. It's one of the things you have to do when you visit New Zealand and I definitelly wasn't disappointed. Good fun.

Skiing on Mt Ruapehu

Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active volcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major skifields and only glaciers are on its slopes. Ruapehu is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the largest active volcano in New Zealand. It is the highest point in the North Island and includes three major peaks: Tahurangi (2,797 m), Te Heuheu (2,755 m) and Paretetaitonga (2,751 m). The deep, active crater is between the peaks and fills with a crater lake between major eruptions.

We decided to go skiing on the day New Zealand Authorities release a storm warning for the North Island and so we made it only for half day. Wind picked up quickly and now we are hiding inside hoping the roof is not blown off. Anyway great fun and if you know me you know that New Zealand is my favorite country. The nature here is just stunning. Thanks for a great day George!

Diving in Lake Rotoma

Lake Rotoma is the easternmost in a chain of three lakes to the northeast of Lake Rotorua in New Zealand's North Island. Like the others, it lies within the Okataina caldera. It is located exactly half-way between the city of Rotorua and town of Whakatane.

Lake Rotoma has a high water quality with visibility up to around 13 metres deep. The lake has a maximum depth of 83 metres in the northern part and 73.5 metres in the southern part. During the 1987 Edgecumbe Earthquake the lake level dropped by approximately 10m, leaving homes that were previously on the lakeside some distance from the lake.

It's been my first dive (!) in New Zealand and even though the water temperature was only 11 degrees it was still quite pleasant and nice. I just love Kiwi Country.