Story by Bianca
Mountain Magic at Rock Retreat
Adventure in Waitomo, Hamilton – Waikato, NZ
Set back in the hills behind Waitomo, our tiny home was the perfect place to unwind and soak up the serenity. Both eco-friendly and self-sufficient thanks to the solar power, the house was equipped with everything we needed, from hot water bottles to homemade yoghurt! Best of all, it was was positioned high enough to enjoy both the mountain and the limestone vistas below.
Our host, Biddy, ensured that we were looked after and comfortable throughout our stay, and was able to give us the local rundown of what to do around town. Biddy and her family have created a private walking track through stunning native bush on the farm, which is aptly named the Misty Mountain Track. An hour's round trip, it features some of New Zealand’s finest bush and a lookout point with views from the valleys to Mount Ruapehu.
With Waitomo Caves right on the doorstep, there are plenty of local adventures to choose from. We opted to do the family-friendly Essential Spellbound Tour with our five-month-old. We were left in awe by glowworms lighting up the cave like the Milky Way, then took a scenic drive out to Marokopa, a small seaside town, to explore one of New Zealand’s most stunning (and secret) waterfalls, Marokopa Falls. A short distance later, we stopped in at Maungapohue Natural Bridge, which was just as spectacular to see.
It was the most magical weekend escaping and reconnecting with family and friends; we were even lucky enough to have our dog, Bonnie, stay with us too....
Our host, Biddy, ensured that we were looked after and comfortable throughout our stay, and was able to give us the local rundown of what to do around town. Biddy and her family have created a private walking track through stunning native bush on the farm, which is aptly named the Misty Mountain Track. An hour's round trip, it features some of New Zealand’s finest bush and a lookout point with views from the valleys to Mount Ruapehu.
With Waitomo Caves right on the doorstep, there are plenty of local adventures to choose from. We opted to do the family-friendly Essential Spellbound Tour with our five-month-old. We were left in awe by glowworms lighting up the cave like the Milky Way, then took a scenic drive out to Marokopa, a small seaside town, to explore one of New Zealand’s most stunning (and secret) waterfalls, Marokopa Falls. A short distance later, we stopped in at Maungapohue Natural Bridge, which was just as spectacular to see.
It was the most magical weekend escaping and reconnecting with family and friends; we were even lucky enough to have our dog, Bonnie, stay with us too....
Things We Did
- Caving
- Walk
- Waterfall
- Lookout
- Food & Drink
Waitomo is famous for its extensive underground cave system. Thousands of glowworms light up the caves and it's a must-see while in the area. We opted for the Essential Spellbound Tour as it catered for all ages and, even better, had a kennel for our doggo to stay at while we were on the tour. If photography is your thing, this is the cave for you as they have tripod mounts set up at spots along the way....
While staying at the amazing Rock Retreat, we were on the doorstep of the Misty Mountain Walk, which was created by the host and her family during New Zealand's pandemic lockdown. The walk is an hour's return trip and features some of New Zealand’s finest bush, as well as with a lookout with views of the valley below and out to Mount Ruapehu....
Our Adventure Map
Where we stayed
Things we did
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