We were hoping to sleep in the day after the big hike but we had a 1:00 pm time booked at The Legendary Blackwater Rafting Co. for a blackwater rafting experience to see glow-worms.
The glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light in the caves. We weren’t quite sure what to expect of the day, and as it turned out, the day did not go as planned!
All started out ok and because we left lots of time to complete the three hour drive we arrived at the caves early. Our 1:00 pm time was bumped up to 12:00 pm and we were getting suited up for our experience shortly after arriving.
We were each given a wet suit, boots, helmet, and headlight, and after a brief safety talk we boarded the bus for a short drive to pick up our rubber inner tubes. This was the area where we got our first instructions on entering entering the water and using the inner tubes. Because there was an area in the cave where we would have to leap backwards off of a small waterfall we were given a chance to practice.
We practiced the chain formation that we would have to use when navigating the caves in the dark.
Now it was back on the bus and off to the cave entrance. There aren’t a lot of pictures because we were not permitted to bring cameras. All pictures I have were taken by the staff.
So, what an exciting day we’ve just had. If only we had been able to truly enjoy it. As it turns out, on the drive to the caves I realized I hadn’t seen our passports in a couple days, and I had no idea where they were. When we first arrived at the caves we tore apart the camper van and our belongings to try to find them, NO LUCK! The passports were gone. I called Peter and he got to work trying to figure out what we needed to do while Libby and I went off on the cave experience. Yep, it would have been much more enjoyable if we knew we had passports.
When the cave experience ended we gave the van another once over and again were not able to find them. At this point I was sure I had accidentally dumped them out of my backpack while shaking it out after the big hike. I called the campsite we had stayed at but they said that no one had found passports. I called Tongariro National Park and they had no passports in their lost and found.
By this time Peter had spoken to Global Affairs Canada and had an e-mail from them outlining what we had to do. It was Monday, we are in New Zealand until Friday, lots of time to solve the problem. We need new passports so have to get back to Wellington (the capital of New Zealand) where the Canadian Consulate is. It’s now after 3:00 pm and a six hour drive to Wellington. Libby was able to determine where in Wellington the Consulate was and where we could get new passport photos taken (the e-mail from Global Affairs provided all of this information) and she booked a hotel close to these locations so we could get up early and start the process. The Consulate was only open until noon.
The drive to Wellington was the fastest and least leisurely of all of our driving in NZ but we did see a beautiful sunset as we arrived on the outskirts of Wellington, and it was nice to sleep in a real bed and have our very own shower the next morning. (Trying to see the positive in a very crappy situation.) Also, there was this pigeon perched on the window ledge outside our room!
While Libby was getting ready I was packing up the few things that we had brought in to the hotel with us. I was checking my wallet to see how much cash we had left, and, guess what I found!!! Talk about feeling like an idiot, but also being extremely happy and relieved. The passports were in the wallet, spine out so that when I did my frantic, panic search the day before, I completely missed them.
So, suddenly, our morning was a lot less busy. We took advantage of the breakfast buffet at the hotel and by mid morning we were leaving Wellington, again. On our way to Rotorua.
I was very lucky in all of this that Peter was at home and was able to quickly get in touch with the Canadian officials. He said that they were extremely helpful and responsive and sent the information e-mail quickly. In the end, it all worked out. And why were the passports in the wallet? The day of the big hike I moved them there so as to have them with us, because the wallet was coming. And then I promptly forgot what I had done. Libby’s advice, next time take a picture!
It's All About The Journey 