"Spilunking" and it is hard to find a time when we are all together and willing to indulge. So one day last spring I decided to explore the newly opened Rimutaka caves just out side the city.

I left early Saturday morning while the dew was still forming on the green grass, taking the east highway out of Wellington past the artificial brilliance of the sky scrapers and their fast paced culture into nature. The sun was starting to rise I encountered the beginning of the mountains bathing them in an angel like radiance, which emphasized the peaks and dips of the ranges. In the distance you could just make out the sparse trees and rocky terrain of TePapa, the particular range I was headed toward. The Maori, the native peoples of New Zealand named it Te Papa, in their language it means "our place" and in their savage history it was the burial place of many a chief and princess.

From the bottom of TePapa I had to hike through 6 miles of lush native forest to the caves entrance. The path was narrow and surrounded on all sides by the thick fauna, Pukeko and Fantails darted from tree to tree singing t

I could tell I was getting closer to the noise as I twisted through the belly of the mountain. A cavern appeared before me and I switched on my light. Running through the cavern was a stream, winding its way through the bedrock like a snake, clear and cold blooded. I waded through the stream letting the cool water run around my legs and soak my pants. Goosebumps traveled over my body.

here early morning tribute to the forest., Every now and then I would hear a rustle and stop crouching to see what was ahead, out of the thick brush a deer would emerge holding its head high its antlers raised in defiance of my trespassing on its land. With a grunt and nostrils flaring it would take off at a run back to its wild untamed world. Dew fell from the hanging branches like torrential rain onto my face and clothing soaking me by the time I reached the caves entrance.

At the other side I sat on a rock and just watched, watched the natural brilliance of the scene. I decided to turn my light off and let the darkness envelop me. With my light off my eyes were drawn upwards to little fluorescent green specks of light. Lying on my back I watched the glowworms, like stars on a clear night twinkle high above me, their fragile glimmer a reminder of the greatness of nature. I lay and watched for hours just enjoying the solitude, glad that there was sti

Some common words found in the essay are:
Pukeko Fantails, UNTOUCHED BEAUTY, Te Papa, caves entrance, green moss, left tunnel,
Approximate Word count = 909
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)