The Waitomo area features several limestone caves that are inhabited by glow worms. Only the Ruakuri Cave permits photography inside. It also contains stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, popcorn, and limestone formations of all manner. Access to the cave is by a spiral staircase that is beautiful in its own right. It also makes this the only wheelchair accessible cave in the southern hemisphere. Our guide allowed me to use my tripod for the glow worm photo which would have been impossible otherwise. Even so, the photo is not that great. You really have to see these in person to appreciate them.

After our visit to the cave, we had hoped to hike to the Three Sisters and Elephant Rock. Unfortunately, it started to rain so heavily that we opted to drive directly to our bed and and breakfast in New Plymouth.