Sunbeams at the Lost World Cave in Waitomo © Waitomo Adventures

Hidden below the rolling green hills of the King Country is an eerie and captivating lost world. Waitomo is the gateway to a pitch-black subterranean world of deep caverns, limestone formations and dark waterways, not to mention amazing galaxies of glowworms. You can explore this mind-blowing world - walk through or abseil into a dry cave with a guide, kick back on a romantic cruise under the glowworm stars or hop on an inner tube and go black-water rafting.

The village of Waitomo Caves has a very small population, but the droves of tourists liven up the area all year round. The caves have been formed over hundreds of thousands of years by underground streams carving out apertures through the limestone rock. There are more than 300 surveyed caves in the area, with a few of these offering tours and activities.

Guided walking tours and boat rides are a great way to see the caves if you want to take it easy. Otherwise you can don a wetsuit, jump on an inner tyre tube and go black-water rafting, where a guide will take you on a tour through water of varying depths.

Black Water Rafting in the Waitomo Caves © Waitomo Adventures

Formations in the Waitomo Caves © Waitomo Adventures

But for the ultimate underworld adventure, opt for the full caving experience - abseiling massive tomos and waterfalls, rock-climbing, crawling and scrambling through tight squeezes, and gliding down rocky chutes and vaulted limestone galleries. Just take your togs and a towel; commercial operators supply the tubes, wetsuits, helmets, abseiling devices and safety equipment. They will also teach you how to work ropes and identify formations.

When you're ready to spend some time above ground, check out the Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre, explore the region on a horse trek or quad bike, or try your luck at trout fishing.

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