Waitomo Museum upgrade

By CATHY ARONSON


WAITOMO - The Waitomo Museum of Caves claims a $300,000 upgrade has turned it into the world's best place to learn about caves.

Waitomo's cave network attracts 500,000 visitors and injects about $17 million into the local economy each year. About 10 per cent of these visitors go to the museum, and it hopes its new look will double this number.

The revamp has transformed the 20-year-old museum into a modern, interactive showpiece with a cave atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a mock cave crawl, cave sounds and state-of-the-art lighting.

Museum director Peter Dimond, himself an experienced caver, said the museum gives tourists and school groups more information than they can get on cave tours.

He said cave museums were rare and Waitomo's make-over had made it the best in the world.