For someone who has always had an issue with small spaces, this looked as though it may be my most challenging 'Insiders Guide To' yet.
Arriving early, I checked in for the Black Odyssey Tour with The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company.
The drive down was stunning, I don't know why Hamiltonians don't make more of the stunning scenery we have at our backdoor.
I hadn't really stopped to think 'I'm going to be having to go through tight spaces today' until I did my fit test.
Crawling through the tunnel in the reception to make sure I would actually be able to do the caving activities, it hit me. Small spaces, breathe.
Slightly more subdued than usual, I met my fellow adventurers and the guides, Kennan and Vashti, changed into my red suit and found a pair of gumboots to fit my oddly shaped feet.
We piled into the van and made our way to the Ruakuri Cave. Slowly we made our way into the cave, walking along the main walkway.
Kennan explained glow worms - maggots with shiny poo. I think glow worms sounds much prettier, even if they really are just fly larvae, they're certainly the best looking maggots I've ever seen.
I've always been one of these people who has an urge to jump over barriers and explore what is beyond the restricted area. You can imagine my delight when that is exactly what we got to do.
After our scenic entry into the cave, things got real. We were taught how to move along the ropes along the cave walls, making sure we were attached at all times, and off we went. By this stage I had completely forgotten I had a fear of small spaces and my desire to adventure kicked in. The first wriggle up and along the cave was the tightest, then things got high. Elated, I was in awe of it all. These caves are giant, there is something incredibly magical about being at the top of a cave, scaling the walls, looking down at the formations and often unappreciated beauty of it all.
"You're not afraid of heights at all, are you?" Vashti asked. I laughed, "Nope!" Then she said, "Imagine what it was like for the people who put all these ropes in." Hmmm, well perhaps I might be a little more worried if I wasn't attached to anything. After an abseil, flying fox, and some serious heights, we stopped for a snack and drink, near the main walkway as we had done a complete loop. Of course, due to this there was a group of other tourists who looked at us with slight bewilderment. I suppose seeing a group of people chilling out on the wrong side of the barrier in a dark cave would look a little odd.
Air inside caves always has this element of fresh, clean, earthiness to it - I love it. Fear of caves and small spaces - gone.
Off we set again, this time we conquered ladders across huge drops, a swing near the top of the cave just for a big of fun, and another flying fox. By the time we had adventured, wriggled through gaps, climbed cave walls, abseiled down, swung, I felt like I had been on one of the best natural playground I had ever experienced!
It is a must-do for those who love to explore, even if you don't love tight spaces!
For more information go to http://www.waitomo.com/Black-water-rafting/Pages/Black-Odyssey-Tour.aspx