THE CAVING AREAS

THE WEST COAST, CHARLESTON & PUNAKAIKI

The Paparoa syncline between Charleston and Punakaiki contains nearly 100km2 of karst (limestone noted for caves, sinking streams, and dolines). It is covered in lush temperate rainforest, with kilometres of cave snaking below this complex landscape. With no major population centres nearby, the caves are relatively pristine, and exploration is ongoing with vast areas yet to be explored.

No trip to the coast would be complete without a visit to Fox River Cave, Te Tahi, Te Ananui/ Metro, or Xanadu. If there's time, and you enjoy getting off the beaten track, a trip to Armageddon requires several days of hiking and camping, but it is a magical place.

Fox River Cave

One of only two of its kind on the South Island, Fox River Cave is an uber-classic, high-volume streamway cave. You’ll need a wetsuit, SRT climbing and abseiling gear, a climbing rope, and the skills to lead a bolted aid climb. You’ll also need stellar weather, with no precip forecast for 48 hours before your trip, or 24 hours after (a safety buffer). Any change in flow while you’re underground could be fatal.

Fox River Cave’s entrance is marked on topo maps and easy to find. Shortly after the entrance, this trip becomes technical, with a series of short pitches followed by a bolted aid climb. At the top of the climb, you reach the high-volume streamway and the best part begins. For the next kilometre or so, you’ll traverse a high rift. Progress is made by swimming or tubing across pools and climbing up short waterfalls. In low flows, it’s fun and straightforward. At the end of the streamway, you’ll be rewarded by some beautiful horizontal caving, glowworms and nice formations. Return the same way you came in. Allow twelve hours for the return trip from the car park.

Te Tahi Cave No West Coast trip is complete without visiting Te Tahi near Charleston. This is a sporty, fun streamway trip with unique cave formations. It can be hard to find, and is best visited with local cavers.

My favourite through-trip in Te Tahi is to abseil down an entrance called Hi Hi, a perfectly cylindrical shaft with a small waterfall flowing over the edge. From Hi Hi, you’ll traverse a small, sporty