Waitomo Adventures | Waitomo Caves

Haggas Honking Holes

Waitomo is that tiny little place in New Zealand that really would get bypassed of it wasn't for those infamous caves, although for some the rabbit shearing is equally as important. Abseiling in the Waitomo Caves had been top of my to do list in New Zealand so I didn't need any persuasion to get crawling through holes, climbing rocks and abseiling down further into those caves to hang out with the glow worms. However, for others not so keen on small spaces you can enjoy the caves by tubes or rafts and enjoy an equally unique experience.

There are a few tours to choose from with Waitomo Adventures and due to some time restraints I chose the Haggas Honking Holes course. A 4 hour course complete with 3 abseils, a little rock climbing and a lot of water. This tour of the Waitomo Caves guarantees to get you wet. Scott and Dion, our guides at Waitomo Adventures, were the epitome of what it must be like to love your job, and their enthusiasm reflected in the experience.

We got suited and booted (literally on the boots, they are a snazzy white) and in for training. What's great about this is that the training doesn't eat in to most of your time down in the caves so before you know it you're in and your headlamps are on. In all its literal sense you are thrown into the deep end. Pretty much immediately you are hooked up and scaling down in to the deep of the cave. The first abseil is the biggest but also the most adrenaline pumping. Looking back up is the only way to ensure just how far you abseiled so you really do need to get in on the action first.

"leave your insecurities in the bus... you're wearing a wetsuit and they are never flattering..."

Climbing and Crawling through the caves is almost as good as the abseiling. It is also the perfect way to make yourself feel thin as some of the holes really don't look as if you are going to get through but majorly satisfactory when you do. For those who share my love/hate relationship with your ass, it is perhaps best to go last when attempting a couple of the holes or just leave all your insecurities in the bus, let's be honest you're wearing a wetsuit and they are never flattering, male or female.

Your next couple of abseils ensure that if somehow you managed not to get soaked yet you certainly will now, a little bit of 'accidental' water splashing in your face whilst you're abseiling is all part of the fun. Possibly the most enjoyable and amusing was the tiny, tiny hole we were inelegantly dropped down into by Dion in the dark and lumped into a pool of water, remember it's dark, nobody can really see the car crash landing. As with all awesome things that come down, you do eventually have to climb back up and at roughly 80m into the cave there's a little bit of climb.

Very kindly the guys at Waitomo Adventures consider your needs and give you chocolate. I can assure you that I most definitely groaned with pleasure at the first bite. Climbing back up involves some ladders and some rock climbing. One rock climb in particular I looked up and thought 'as if' but if my stumpy legs can make it then so can yours. I have to be honest there were moments of physically lifting my legs up to reach a rock but then as I said I have small legs. As you climb out to daylight again your heart is pumping equally as much as it would when you skydive and the experience lasts so much longer.

Our 4 hour Haggas Honking Holes trip was not only the best morning I have spent in New Zealand so far it ensures that I am so coming back to Waitomo Adventures to complete their mammoth 7 hour Lost World Epic. Take it from me, the Waitomo Caves did not disappoint and remains to this day top of the list of activities in New Zealand.