An adults-only escape hidden in a valley of caves and Waitomo's other secrets

I'm in Waitomo beneath a magnificent glow of light. I guess you're assuming I'm in the famed Waitomo Caves, gazing at glowworms. Guess again. I'm just a few kilometres away, in a glamping dome, looking up at the Milky Way.

Waikato's Waitomo region is, of course, world-renowned for its glowworm cave, where you can drift through a silent symphony of blue. It’s a must-do.

However, many simply drive to the region for the caves, before leaving again. And if you do that, you're missing out on some stunning sightseeing. Here's what you can't miss.

Wai Domo O is a new glamping escape just a few minutes' drive from the Waitomo Caves. The tent is on a hill on a remote farm, and as dawn broke, we were lucky enough to wake above the clouds, as the valley filled with fog.

The new adults-only retreat is the brainchild of Katie Dimond, who has an extensive background in tourism – so decided to create an escape on her family farm.

The solar-powered dome is ideally positioned to explore a few of the region's other lesser-known gems.

The remnants of an ancient cave system has created the stunning Mangapohue Natural Bridge. It's reached on an easy 10-minute boardwalk through dense bush before arriving at the base of an enormous eroded cave.

What's left is the very top, forming an arch over the gulley – or natural bridge. You can walk up a set of stairs and through the arch, before continuing the loop walk.

The walk to the thunderous Marokopa Falls is almost as good as the destination. The 20-minute return hike traverses a thick tawa and nīkau forest to get there, lined with pīwakawaka.

You then reach the 35-metre falls, which some argue is the most beautiful in New Zealand.

The 45-minute Ruakuri Walk can't be missed either. It weaves through a densely forested gorge, through tunnels, up a soaring staircase before finally reaching an enormous cave.

Thanks to a large platform, you're able to descend into the cave – the kids will love it. And best of all, it's free. At night, the walk can be done with a torch, where you're likely to see lots of glowworms.

A night at Wai Dome O is $290 per couple.

Waitomo is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Auckland. Air New Zealand flies from Wellington and Christchurch to Hamilton with connections across the domestic network Origin Air flies from Napier, Palmerston North and Nelson to Hamilton See: or

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