Waitomo Education Service

Contact Us: Ph: 07 878 7642 Fax: 07 878 6184 PO Box 12 Waitomo Caves New Zealand  education@waitomodiscovery.org

WAITOMO EDUCATION SERVICE

WAITOMO - A CONTEXT FOR LEARNING

PROGRAMMES AVAILABLE

ACTIVITIES FOR NZ SCHOOLS

ACCOMMODATION FOR NZ SCHOOLS

MEALS

TEACHING RESOURCES

WAITOMO - A UNIQUE CONTEXT FOR LEARNING

Waitomo is a small village an hour's drive south of Hamilton. Underlying the Waitomo farmland and bush are over fifty caves; many are used for tourism, sport and scientific study. The caves, with their constant temperature and darkness, provide a home for diverse flora and fauna. 

Three hundred inhabitants form a close-knit community. The area and caves attract over 400,000 tourists each year. An increasing number of "wild" caves have been "opened" for adventure trips. Pressure from tourist numbers not only impacts on the natural resources but has important implications for the lifestyle and economy of locals.

A conservation ethic has a firm base in the Waitomo community with the Department of Conservation working closely with a local Landcare group. Opportunities are available for students to take part in monitoring waterways and native flora and fauna.

For over 50 years Waitomo has attracted recreational cavers. The wild caves are still being explored and new passages discovered. The technology of caving, e.g. SRT, cave surveying, cave rescue and cave diving, are available as part of the learning environment.

Waitomo, in the heart of the King Country, has a rich Maori cultural heritage. 30% of the population is Maori (Ngati Maniapoto) and several marae serve the tangata whenua. These marae are available to schools for accommodation. Experiences on the marae and local pa sites, working with Museum taonga, local weavers and carvers, provide students with a unique insight into tikanga maori, both past and present.

email us at: education@waitomodiscovery.org                   16/01/2008