Underground In New Zealand
 

After my recent visit to Japan, I headed back to my home country of New Zealand to catch up with family & friends.

I also got to visit Waitomo for a fun day of caving:).

Paying utmost attention for the safety briefing before the abseil down.
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Down into the abyss:). At ~100metres it is the world's deepest commercial cave abseil.
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Only one hand:).
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My sis bought me the trip for a birthday present.
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Into the middle of the earth:).
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From left, Cassandra from California, me, my sister Victoria, and hubby Steve.
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Almost at the bottom of the descent.
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Ready for landing.
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Sandwiches & Muffins for lunch before heading into the dark.
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My 'Rocky' pose:D.
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Jumping in the deep end:)!
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Clambering up the two rocks faces. Took a bit of co-ordination, especially wearing gumboots:)!
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Not for the claustrophobic:)!
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Luckily the water level wasn't too high after recents rains.
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Steve squeezing his 6 foot 4 frame through.
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Glow worms:).
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At the end after 7 hours underground!
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And back to the surface:).
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At Auckland Airport, about to board the EK A380 for the flight back to Dubai:).
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Wow! The caving looks amazing, but definitely not for someone with claustrophobia. :D

Those pictures of you guys squeezing through are terrifying! I'm not brave enough for that! As usual absolutely stunning pictures.

No Thanks. I'm Good. ;)

WOW....those are pretty awesome photos! Compared to those cramped caves, 10 abreast on a EK 777 doesn't seem so bad...

Sensational pics! What a great experience!

Looks amazing!

Thanks, guys:). Being in the dark with only a headlamp deep underground was actually quite calming, just as long as you didn't get lost from everyone else though:).

They've had an 87 year old and a blind person down there, as well as a paraplegic doing the abseil, so no one has any excuses:)!

Yep, it makes me cringe when Tim Clark talks about 11 abreast in the A380:(!

Yeah, you gotta try it. You can do it all. Go for it!!

Great photos!

Did this EXACT same thing in 2011. What fun. Did fly F on the A380 out of AKL after ;)

Nice photos - looks like you guys had a blast.

I'm guessing you didn't bring the DSLR for this? ;)

Yes, wasn't going to risk my DSLR down there:). Our two guides had a waterproof point & shoot camera each, and took all the photo's.

Yes, great way to see NZ from below:D. Unfortunately I was downstairs stuck in a middle seat on the A380:(.

People do this for fun?

I have two questions about your seven hour trip to the cave:

1) you know...what did you do about....seven hours is a long time...
2) how did you get up?