Rawhiti Cave - Rawhiti Cave Rawhiti Cave Track
4.6/5
★
based on 8 reviews
Contact Rawhiti Cave
| Address : | Rawhiti Cave Rawhiti Cave Track, Motupipi 7183, New Zealand |
| Postal code : | 7183 |
| Website : | https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/takaka-area/things-to-do/tracks/rawhiti-cave-track/ |
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| Description : | Challenging hike to a viewing platform within a cave mouth, known for stalactites & unique flora. |
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Aka123 Aka123 on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Very tough walk ! It’s defiantly more rock climbing near the end, steep zig zag climb that seems to go forever, with sheer drop offs, very scary if you had young kids…. But awesome cave - well worth it, if your fit & able.
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Scott Mosley on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ First half of this track is reasonably easy, luling you into a false sense of security. Once you make it to the start of the real climb it becomes quite a challenge to make the journey to the cave. There are several parts that require confidence in footing and even good upper body strength to be able to pull yourself up with a rope. It was very challenging for my 8 year old boy, but with a very careful eye watching him and lots of support going up (and more so down) he was able to make it to the top. My six year old daughter had to turn back with her mother. Strong and good gripping footwear is a must. Lots of water if the day is hot. The cave at the end is worth the effort and a very impressive example of the type. I look forward to doing this again in future years with a more matured family.
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Lucas Sidow de Campos on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The cave is astonishing considering its unique stalactites formation that “grows” towards the sunlight. The track isn’t very hard but very steep of about 30 minutes one way, you can walk part of the track back by the Dry River.
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rosina montagnani on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This climb to the caves is not for the feint hearted. I kid you not it is dangerous and there is a warning sign about continuing on after a certain point but it does not prepare you for how dangerous it can be. The climb up was muddy and slippery which made going down after even more worrying.when we got to the caves we couldn't get to the platform because part of the path was so muddy and there was no rail to stop you from going over the side if you slipped. But it was amazing to see the caves when you got there.
DOC you need to put more ropes through the track or fix the track and definitely put up a rail so that people can get to the platform to see inside the caves. It is an absolute wonder but not worth breaking bones over.
Driving to the entrance of the track might also be a challenge, not for motorhomes or cars towing caravans. The road is full of massive potholes the size of craters.
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Mark Pitts on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ An absolutely amazing cave with large stalagtites and stalagmites!
It’s a little bit of a hike up to the cave, by the effort is worth it to see this unique formation.
The trail to the cave is well developed and goes through a forested area, but rocky and steep in some places, and can be a little slippery if the trail is wet.
There are some beautiful scenic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys from the trail.
Wear good boots or hiking shoes, and be sure to take some water and snacks.
If you are in fairly good condition, the hike will be no problem for you, but it might be tough for kids or for less healthy or less well conditioned hikers.
The cave entrance has plenty of stairs and platforms, so getting into the cave is easy.
It took around 3 hours for us to hike up to the cave, spend time there relaxing and having lunch, then hike back down.
Take the time for an afternoon hike to see this amazing cave!
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R H on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Impressive cave, definitely worth the walk. Walk is not as hard as some of the reviews indicate, second bit is steep but only for about 20-30 mins. We did the walk with our 3 and 4 year old and they were fine, just need to pay attention because a couple of steep drop offs. Wouldn’t do the walk after rain.
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W R Edwards on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Rawhiti (meaning Sunshine) Cave has the largest entrance of any cave in New Zealand with an opening of about 40 metres wide and up to 20 metres in height. The ceiling is densely covered in stalactites.
I'm generally not a fan of caves. They are cold, dark places, usually you are waiting for bad things (bad luck) to happen. They use to run guided tours at Rawhiti Cave but a 7.8 earthquake in 1929, quickly ruined that ideal.
It takes approximately 15 minutes to drive from Takaka to the carpark.
This cave is different to others as it receives winter sun. So the the stalactites at the cave entrance and within the cave itself contain plant matter that are attracted to the light ( Phytokarst features ). So these stalactites actually grow towards the light instead of straight down.
It is free to see and the cave structure itself dates back at least one million years.
Rawhiti Cave has the most diverse twilight-zone flora of any cave in New Zealand. You can walk onto a viewing platform just inside the cave entrance.
Know before you go. The track crosses a dry river bed, which is prone to flash flooding after heavy rain. You will have limited time to escape as you hear the sound and roar of a freight train approaching. You will hear a tremendous noise. This is the flash flood. This dry river bed has huge boulders, the size of a motor car. There is debris everywhere along the track.
If has been raining heavily, it is advisable not to proceed. On the track there have been land slips, huge trees have fallen down etc.
The stream which formed this cave over a million years ago is now buried deep below the ground, but the constant dripping of calcium-rich water through cracks in the cave roof - and the resulting calcite deposits caused by evaporation - is what eventually produces the amazing cone-shaped and tubular stalactites you see on the ceiling of Rawhiti Cave. Stalagmites also then grow upward from the floor of the cave, as a result of the slow constant dripping from overhanging stalactites.
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William Quéant on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ At the end of a bumpy road, a parking lot in front of a gate. Open this gate and prepare yourself for 2.2km of waiting. The first half was easy. The path is large and mostly flat. Then you reach a sign who warns you that the following is at an other level. You better think twice and take this advice quite seriously! To make your decision, you should try a couple of turns. If it's already hard, go back! I mean seriously! It will be more and more challenging! But... If you reach the top, the cave is breathtaking (or maybe you really need to breathe!) We have done this road with teens 15y and 18y. We never have done a walk as hard as this one, but we made it and were all proud of it. A great achievement for our girls!
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