After waking up with sunburn but a good night sleep, I spent the day visiting Rothesay Bay, Browns Bay & Mairangi. Swimming, shopping, drinking. What beautiful beaches and walks. North shore certainly was a lovely place to be, but it was time for me to leave to "Jaffers" and move to my next stop Hamilton. So on day 3, and without getting lost..I make my way south.

Sue, (my sisters kiwi mummy), is the most loveliest, warning, mummy figure you could ask for. She is making my stay in Hamilton a lovely one.
Waitomo caves had always been on my hit list of places to visit. I thought a pleasant boat ride in the caves to see the glow worms would be lovely... However, I ended up being dragged into doing the Black Labyrinth(weave, jump, climb, and float through a glowworm-cave!!!) And so glad I did. My experiences of having to put a wet suit on, had not been a pleasant one but nothing could spoil my day today. There were 12 in our group from all different nationalities and a lovely bunch we were. We were first taken for practice waterfall jumps which meant holding a rubber tubing(donut) under your bottom and jumping backwards at about 2 metres. I was the first to go!!! Little did I or everyone else realise how far under the water you'd go!!! So after me swallowing a gallon of water, I scrambled out of the practice lake coughing and spluttering and began to question if this was really for me!! I was a little apprehensive about the claustrophobic feeling too but was assured the entry into the cave would be the worst part. Once in there, it was awesome. It was cold and the water was freezing but trekking through caves where you had stalagmites and glow worms was fascinating. The water was rushing fast and at times you didn't know how deep the water would be or what rocks you'd be treading on. You'd grab the side of the caves walls for dear life at times, causing small cuts or grazes on your hands!! When instructions were given of exactly what you had to do and the consequences if you didn't, it put the fear of God in me.!!! The two water fall jumps weren't as big as I thought, but still I remembered to hold my breath or blow out as to not to swallow the water... We were in there for approx 3 hours and were some feet below ground. It was one of the best adrenaline things I've ever done and would recommend it to anyone.

I decided on my way back to Hamilton to stop off at the kiwi house and take a look at these local birds of NZ... Only I can get caught up with a coach load of American tourists and have to endure the half hour tour pretending to be with the party!!!! However, The kiwi's, they were just how I imagined. They were in a dark sanctuary so it was difficult to see at first but glad I'd made the stop off.