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Cave Stream
Added 1 June 20011 June 2001 by MatthewMatthew.1 revision 27 January 200627 January 2006 by MatthewMatthew. View history
An exciting walk through a twisty limestone cave near Castle Hill.
| Begins | SH73 north of Castle Hill |
|---|---|
| Return | One way (about 5 mins walk from end to end) |
| Grade |
What does this mean?
MediumClick for warnings and more detail! Easy: Unusually smooth, well-marked track, easy gradients. Up to about 4 hours per day. |
| Length | - |
| Time | 1 hr (½ dqay) |
| Altitude |
640m
(2,099.7 ft)
– 650m
(2,132.5 ft)
Δ 10m
(33ft)
|
| Map sheets |
NZMS260-K34
|
Notes
This trip is suitable for people who haven't been caving before and supervised children. You will need individual torches (headlamps are good but don't pick out as much detail as a strong torch), clothing that remains warm when wet such as synthetic thermals or a wetsuit. Take a fleece too -- remember, you are wet for about an hour and it's cool underground. Tramping boots are a good idea as the floor is riverbed and rough. Finally, take a thick towel and change of clothes.
This cave is very dangerous when it is raining in the mountains as it can flood quickly. In spring, a lot of water flows through the stream, making it a little more challenging.
The cave is generally walked in an upstream direction starting at the large, round lower portal. It begins with a waist-deep wade and continues along a very windy passage, past some deep pools and small waterfalls. There is only one passage so no chance of becoming lost. The upper end of the passage has a major waterfall. Here, a rung ladder climbs the cave wall to a small shelf that you edge along to the exit. This is the trickiest section. Children should be carefully supervised here.
If you feel claustrophobic, it's still worthwhile to visit the two portals, and then you may like to head to nearby Castle Hill to explore the limestone outcrops.
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