Waipu Caves

Wednesday, November 23^rd, Langs Beach

Located a few kilometers up the coast and inland is the Waipu (why-poo) Caves. After yet another picturesque drive, we parked the car and walked a short distance to the cave. Unlike the commercial caves at Waitomo, this one is ‘enter on your own and make your way to where the glow worms hang from the stalactites’. Recent rains had made the way in quite muddy, and without a flashlight you could easily trip in an unseen hole, so we didn’t go much beyond the entrance.

We decided to walk the nearby McKenzie Trail that wound upwards through the woods. The path had several rock formations, wild foxglove and stunning views of the valley. The forest was alive with wild bird songs and wind in the tree tops. Several parts of the trail were very steep but end was worth the climb as the summit gave us a breathtaking view of several valleys and the ocean in the distance. My instant reaction was to sing out, “The hills are alive…WOW”! Less than a minute later, the woman that had passed us on her run up the hill, appeared around the corner smiling broadly, obviously within earshot of my spontaneous outburst. We decided not to walk the last kilometer to the end as the view wouldn’t be any better, so we made our way back down.

In what is basically a one street town, the Pizza Barn in Waipu is a very busy restaurant especially in the evening. They serve a variety of unusual pizzas, burgers and mains and the creative interior with recycled corrugated metal on the walls, various antiques, western décor and good music, it was a happening place.