Off the highway we saw a little sign to glowworm caves and turned of. It was the Kawati caves, owned by a maorifamily. The guide told of how her ancester found the caves, and it was inhabited! Here comes the story:
This cave was discovered by Roku Hine-a-maru, famous ancestress of the Ngatihine Tribe, arrived at Waitmio with her aged father, Torongare, and her beothers. Exploring the walley, she discovered trodden Tawa berries which aroused her curiosity. no member of her party had come this way. Later she smelt smoke whick seemed to come from a nearby hill. She went forward and found that the smoke was coming from a cave. Fifty yards in front of the entrance she came upon a woman sitting by the fire. Hien-a-maru learned that she was Roku, runaway wife of Haumoewarangi, of the tribe Ngatitu."
She had lived there for 1 an a half years. Run away from her husband. They looked after her, and then sent her back to her husband - who was a chief. Poor girl.
We, though, had a lovely walk through the caves seeing blue glowworm-stars in the ceiling, and afterwords through native forest, back to the car. Look out for pictures on the photosection.
