CAVING

The cave as its name suggests has a subterranean stream disgorging from a 30-metre cliff. It meanders and twists for 594 metres between the two entrances. Bracing the chilled deepening water, you venture up-stream, climbing over smoothed boulders and waterfalls - in the pitch black. Adrenaline charged and captivated by the cave’s structural magnificence you can spotlight the caves troglophile dwellers. The cave ends in a deep pool with a 3-metre-high waterfall. A ladder of iron rungs in the rock climbs up beside the waterfall and a chain and step help the crawl along the overhang ledge to the exit. In the dark zone of the cave, a rare species of Arachnid (spider), The Cave Harvestman, is found. It feeds on insects and other small cave creatures. It is known to live only in this cave and one other on the West Coast.

If care is taken, fit, inexperienced cavers can partake in this activity.

Cave Stream is meaningful to the Māori. It was an important burial place (urupa) for distinguished chiefs and tohunga, some still sealed away in the walls.