Glow Worm Caves

I was looking to crawl around in some caves, and maybe see a glow worm or two (not really worms as I now know). I booked a trip with Underworld Adventures for a 4 hr adventure through a cave system, ending with tubing through the glow worm cave tunnels. There were two English travelers in my group, and one great guide full of knowledge. We started by suiting up in heavy, thick, HOT, wetsuits and took a little train into the mountains. This was also where The Lost World was filmed, so I was pretty excited.

We snapped a few photos then hiked up the side of the mountain to the top entrance of the cave.

The Adventure Crew

Adventure Crew gets down

At the cave entrance

Into and down into the mountain we went. Shimming through some tight spots, and also got to see some places most groups don't get to go since there were only three of us yay!

Cave rock in the light

Stalactites 

Second larger entrance to the cave

Ahhh jaws

Then we got to the lower levels of the cave where we jumped into our tubes. I asked if there were eels, and my guide didn't exactly answer me...
Once we were all on our tubes, we extinguished our torches and the guide lead us down though the cave system. All at once, we came through a narrow squeeze, and the ceiling opened up to a massive cavern. The entire top of the room was covered in what looked like millions of tiny blue lights. It was AMAZING! This is one of, if not the most amazing thing I have seen in New Zealand. It looked like the brilliant night sky on one of those camping trips you take, far far away from any light of any city, and as we floated through the tunnels into more large caves, there were more and more everywhere you looked. We oooed and awwwwwed our way through to the cave exit. I could have floated through 100 times and still want to see it again.

Are there eels in this cave?

Cave exit

There were eels in the cave. This one was over 5 ft long...

A quick 10 min float down the river back to the swing bridge and train back to the starting point.

Great trip!

West Coast to East Coast and Everything In-Between

After dropping off my last travel buddy, I still had about three weeks before Fantasia arrived, so I set out looking for adventure.
First up was back to Nelson Lakes to hike to the St. Angelus Hut. The first 3 hours were amazing and sunny, stunning 360 views, and I was moving fast.

Ridgeline trail

Now I had been warned a wee number of times about the weather in New Zealand, especially on the ridges. A sunny day can turn into a stormy, ice cold, hailing, fog so dense you can't see, winds so high they blow you off the mountain, pit of darkness in a matter of 20 minutes. I saw some clouds in the distance that didn't look too bad, but a half hour later, they looked dark and menacing. Within an hour I was being blown so hard I had to walk sideways so my pack wouldn't knock me off kilter. I threw on my gloves, hat, and heaviest coat, still cold to the misty rain coming down. The ridge line trail that started out exciting and beautiful quickly became a slippery terrifying stumble as the fog crept of the mountains towards me. Soon I was picking out the next trail pole marker in the fog, one by one, hoping I would be able to see the next one. 

Where was this stupid cabin? I had been hiking 6 hours or so when I saw something in the distance. A sign! 30 mins to the cabin yippy! I slipped down the side of the mountain to the lake with a large cabin on the left hand side, you might be able to pick it out in the picture below. The cabin housed over 30 people, 7 there this evening. We built a fire and watched the hail, rain, and fog in a lovely dance, falling to sleep early. 

View the second day between fog clouds

The sign of hope! You can almost make out the next marker...

Two more wet, rainy days staying in huts along the way to dry out, and I relieve myself from the Nelson Lakes area. Back to Nelson for a pub visit with the longterm students and b-day party with some local friends, then back to the woods. Mt. Arthur called my name so off I went in the Trusty Steed. The weather seemed to be okay to start, and I made it to the first cabin, set down my gear and headed to the peak. 

View looking back at the ridge hike trail to Angelus Hut

Hiking up to Mt. Arthur

Almost to the top when the winds swarmed around me, attempting to take the coat off my back. The peak in in the fog in the photo below. I headed back to the hut and since it was mid-day, continued my hike to the next cabin for a splendid evening with a German and Swiss, beating them at cards.

The rain came to stay for the next week, so I headed over to the west coast. The lodge at Gentle Annie's, outside of Westport was cheap so I booked a room instead of putting up my tent. Turns out I was the only one to book a room. I spent the evening with a fire in the fireplace, listening to music, enjoying some local beer and adding to my journal. It was wonderful to be alone in a huge lodge, listening to the rain and wind, cozy by the fire. 

The next day I headed up to Karamea, the northern most point on the road on the west coast. I visited the Oparara Basin to see the huge rock arches and caves you can explore without a guide. Scary! Luckily there was another young lady in the caves so we explored the depths together, shimming into passageways and up through holes. 

largest swing bridge in NZ

Weeeeeee

Hiking up to the Rock Arches

Oparara Arch

Cool cave entrance at the Moria Arch

Moria Arch

Entrance to the large self-guided Box Canyon cave system

Moria Cave Arch

Cave at the Oparara Arch 

Fire at Gentle Annie's

View from Gentle Annie's

I ventured a few hours down the west coast before the rain turned me towards the east coast in hopes of greener pastures. Spent Thanksgiving at Hamner Springs with a massage and lots of down time in the hot pools and exploring the little town. 

The east coast was indeed sunnier! I ventured through Kaikoura and the surrounding beaches. Lots of seal pups, short day hikes, and endless walks collecting shells. 

Driving to the East Coast - Mid drive hike

Lake Taylor

Camping at Lake Taylor

Perfected the spicy breakfast egg sandwich out of the car

Morning view on Lake Taylor

East Coast

Kaikoura Coastal Walk

Foggy Morning in Kaikoura

Seals!

Seal pups

Beach time in the White Bay campground

Mermaid Cave

Storm evening in Kaikoura

Pretty flowers

Top of Mt. Stokes 

Mt. Stokes view

I fit in the car for sleeping!

That last pic was from the sounds, the most northern part of the south island, where I found out I can fit and sleep in the trusty steed! Sooo much rain before hiking Mt. Stokes. Turns out a yoga mat, sleeping pad, two sleeping bags, and a duffle of clothes make a nice little car bed :) I hunkered down for hot soup, whiskey and a good book this dreary evening. 

Cheers!

Christina