Waitomo Education Service
Contact Us: Ph: +64 7 878 7642 Fax: +64 7 878 6184 Address: Counter Delivery 3, Waitomo Caves Post Centre, Waitomo 3943, New Zealand Email: education@waitomodiscovery.org
WAITOMO - A CONTEXT FOR LEARNING
Above Ground Adventure Activities
Below Ground Adventure Activities
To book email us at education@waitomodiscovery.org
Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre (formerly Waitomo Museum of Caves)
Waitomo Glowworm Cave and Aranui Cave
Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre
(formerly Waitomo Museum of
Caves):
This award winning Museum explores the above
and
below ground treasures of the Waitomo
Caves
area. The Museum houses a wide range of fossils, cave crystal formations and the skeletal
remains of long extinct bird life in its extensive cave related collection. The
interpretation and design makes this material easily accessible to students at all levels. Hands on features such as the cave crawl and 'feely' boxes allow younger students to
interact with the displays. Secondary students gain a more in depth understanding of karst
geology, of the impacts of tourism on the region, and of cave flora and fauna through the audio-visual shows and working models. 
Lessons are available to extend your students' visit to the area. These may take place in the Education Service Centre at the Museum or out in the surrounding environment - depending on the objectives for the group's visit.
Click here for RAMS (Risk Analysis and Management Systems)
Waitomo
Glowworm Cave and Aranui Cave:
Glowworm Cave: Take an interpreted guided tour of the Glowworm Cave. Finish in the Glowworm Grotto. Off peak time: before 10.30am, after 2.30pm. Peak time: 10.30am - 2.30pm
Aranui Cave: See cave weta, delicate straws and a wide variety of cave formations.
Click here for RAMS (Risk Analysis and Management Systems)
Ruakuri Cave: (Y1
Students and Up)
This guided cave tour is wheelchair accessible. Students enter the cave through a huge man made spiral. Students will see glowworms and magnificent crystal shawls and other cave formations. The cave tour takes the students through 1.6 km of cave passage. Students may take photographs. Allow 1 1/2 - 2 hours for the tour.
Every visitor is assured of
seeing kiwi on the guided tour of the nocturnal house. Other features include New
Zealand's original walk-through aviary where visitors can see native birds in a natural
rainforest habitat. Other aviaries, ponds and marshlands display a wide variety of rare and
unusual birds, tuatara and geckos. Lessons are available to extend your students' visit to the area. These may take place
in the Otorohanga Kiwi House or out in the surrounding environment -
depending on the objectives for the group's visit.
Click here for RAMS (Risk Analysis and Management Systems)
The Shearing Shed: The Shearing Shed gives children the chance to he
ar about the habits of the Angora
rabbit. They can view a shearing demonstration and hold the rabbits. Best visited in small
groups i.e. 20 max.
Offers a farm show that allows you to experience NZ agriculture from the pioneer days through to the present. Watch jigger chopping, pit sawing and a timber jack in use, to understand how pioneers cleared the land. See a demonstration of shearing as it was in the past and now. See a range of farm animals.
Click here for RAMS (Risk Analysis and Management Systems)
email us at: education@waitomodiscovery.org 03/05/2010