Editing Waitomo (section)

== History ==
The village Waitomo Caves is named for the hundreds of caves present in the spectacular [[karst]] landscape.

The limestone landscape of the [[Waitomo District]] area has been the centre of increasingly popular commercial [[caving]] tourism since before 1900. Initially mostly consisting of impromptu trips guided by local [[Māori people|Māori]], a large cave system near Waitomo Caves were nationalised by [[the Crown]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/rock-stars/|title=Rock Stars|first=Kate|last=Evans|publisher=New Zealand Geographic|date=May–June 2017|quote=The Scenery Preservation Act of 1903 gave the government far-reaching powers to forcibly purchase land, and in 1904 the Waitomo Glowworm Cave was the first place to be nationalised. The landowners were awarded £625 in compensation}}</ref> and managed as a (relatively genteel) tourism attraction from 1904 onwards.<ref name="TOUR">[http://www.teara.govt.nz/TheBush/BushAndMountainRecreation/Caving/2/en Caving tourism] (from [[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]])</ref> A 1915 guide said, "It is reached by railway to [[Hangatiki railway station|Hangatiki]], thence 6 miles by coach along a good road".<ref>Bradbury, E E (1915). ''The Raglan and Kawhia Districts''. Waikato University library: Bradbury. p. 85.</ref>

A visit to Waitomo Caves made number 14 amongst a list of 101 "Kiwi must-do's" in a [[New Zealand Automobile Association]] poll of over 20,000 motorists published 2007,<ref name="NZ_Herald_10423289">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10423289 |title=Peaks, sounds, parks and islands tops in Kiwi eyes |author=Dye, Stuart |date=10 February 2007 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref> and in 2004, around 400,000 visitors entered caves in the area.<ref name="TOUR" />

The [[Waitomo Caves Museum]] provides information about the karst landscape, caves and caving and the history of the area.