For an unforgettable, eerie adventure, visit the Waitomo Caves, 45 mi/75 km south of Hamilton on New Zealand's North Island. Carved by the force of water on soft limestone over millenia, the caves feature amazing rock formations. Among the huge stalactites hanging from the ceiling are thousands of luminescent glowworms. The more understated Aranui Cave also has thousands of tiny stalactites.
The most popular ways to see the Waitomo Caves are either on foot or by boat. Ride a tour boat or float on a rubber tube through the dark caverns and visit the Museum of Caves. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try "black-water" rafting in the Ruakuri Cave. Rafters don wet suits and miner's helmets to float through the glowworm caves and down a small waterfall.
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