The underground glories of Waitomo

Published: Aug. 30, 2011, 5:01 a.m.

The limestone Waitomo Caves attract over 400,000 visitors a year to their spectacular glow-worm grotto and caverns. The cave system was first explored in 1887, and from 1905 it was managed by the New Zealand government's Tourist Department. Today black-water rafting is popular with more adventurous visitors.