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Coolest underground activities
  • The world's only underground trampoline is located in Wales and is a massive network of bouncy nets in underground caverns twice the size of St Paul's Cathedral! Visitors at Bounce Below, near the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, are taken to the impressive 200x60 foot cavern by an old mining train and kitted out in special overalls and a helmet before being let loose to bounce, climb and slide in the unique setting. The walls feature technicoloured lights which illuminate the subterranean background with vibrant colours.
  • Grab your goggles and snorkels to enter the subterranean rivers at the Xcaret Park near Cancun, Mexico. The Underground Rivers are part of a natural network of channels which circulate under the Yucatan Peninsula. Live the experience of being driven by freshwater streams and explore the Blue River, Maya River or Manatee River at this natural treasure. The whole family can float gently to observe ancient Mayan cenotes, rock formations and marine fossils. The underground rivers are made up of a labyrinth of caves and tunnels that are illuminated by natural light and extend for 600 metres with a depth of 1.60 metres.
  • Coober Pedy in southern Australia is famed for its fabulous opals and bizarre underground homes. Miners have dug into the white and orange rock to extract the valuable, sparkling stone for generations and today, the outback town is home to a few thousand people who still dig for opal and live underground. Take a guided tour of unusual Coober Pedy to discover the underground museum, art galleries, churches and shops. And be sure to stay in one of the underground hotels to try underground life for yourself!
  • At the 18th century crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields, one of London's best-loved churches and arts venues, you can stop for afternoon tea or lunch underground. The impressive self-service Café in the Crypt boasts beautiful architecture, brick-vaulted ceilings and historic tombstones beneath your feet. On Wednesday nights it is open until 10.30pm for Jazz Nights.
  • California's Forestiere Underground Gardens is the work of Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere who created the subterranean network of over a hundred niches, courtyards, patios, rooms and passageways. The underground gardens are full of life and light, with skylights and courtyards letting in sunlight and rainwater. Visit the unique gardens in Fresno to witness one-of-a-kind fruit producing trees, shrubs and vines growing underground - some of which are over 90 years old. There is also ancient Roman architecture and underground micro-climates, with temperature variations of 10 to 30 degrees.

  • Adventure hotspot New Zealand has white water rafting nailed, but for something a little different, try black water rafting through underground caves. Also known as cave tubing, black water rafting takes adrenalin junkies down a river in the Waitomo Caves on an inflated rubber tube. The attraction offers the best of backwater rafting organised by the Black Water Rafting Company, with caving, tubing, climbing and swimming taking in the unique glowworms.

  • Take a journey deep below and behind the heart of Niagara and stand in the mist where the mighty Horseshoe Falls tumbles from 13 storeys above with the Journey Behind the Falls attraction. You will experience the awesome spectacle of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water crashing down to the basin below, where during summer daylight hours, over 2,800 cubic meters of water thunders over the brink every second at 65 kilometres per hour. Visitors take a lift down 45 metres through bedrock to tunnels leading to the Cataract Portal and Great Falls Portal, one-third of the way behind the massive sheet of water.

  • Fancy a night in the world's deepest underground hotel room? Situated just north of Stockholm, Sweden, the Sala Silvermine Mine Suite (£370 per night) allows you to enjoy a luxurious and romantic cave stay. The suite for two is 155m underground and surrounded by winding galleries and huge caverns. Upon arrival you'll receive a guided tour and be served a basket of cheese, biscuits, wine and chocolate, before spending the night in the unique suite.

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