Reviews of Rawhiti Cave. (Other) in Tākaka (Tasman).

Rawhiti Cave

228 Reviews

108 Comments

Other

Hiking area

Tourist attraction

Rawhiti Cave Track, Motupipi 7183, New Zealand

Description

Information of Rawhiti Cave, Other in Tākaka (Tasman)

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This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

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Reviews of Rawhiti Cave

W. Q.

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!

W.

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.

R. H.

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.

M. P.

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!

r. m.

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.

Z. L. Z.

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.

S. M.

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.

A. -. M. A.

It is a unique cave; you can't wander around inside the cave. The idea is to walk on the safe platform inside the cave. The access is quite challenging; make sure you take some water because walking uphill is quite tiring. It not recommended for elderly and very unfit people. It is worthy after getting there.

H. Y.

Be aware, the track to the cave is 1 hr+ and it’s quite tough(see photo),it’s a undeveloped track in my opinion, the only stairs is on the top of the track which lead down to the cave and it is wet muddy slippery. View is stunning and worth it.

S. D.

The sign days 1 hour walk...don't be deceived...it's really 1 hour walk, mostly going up...should I say 'climb up'. However once you get there - if you get there - you feel good about yourself for not having given up. It's a huge cave, very deep with a stunning stalactites fomation. Magical! And for free... close the gate once you leave. It's a private land!

J. B.

Very uphill walk and a bit of a scramble at the end but absolutely worth it for the view of a rare phytokarst cave. Bring water!

C. Y.

The entrance of the cave is facing north, so the best time to visit is midday(12-2pm). And maybe when winter the sun can shine the cave(?) The sign indicate up to the cave takes 1hr, but I did it 30mins. So if you are fit enough, 1hr return is possible(not including rest times and the time you take pic)

K. M.

The walk to the cave takes about 45-60 minutes and does get quite steep and slippery towards the end. Well worth the effort though. Try to get to the cave around 11am as the sun shines right into the back! There's a car park at the start of the walk.

Z. Y.

Very challenging 2 hours climbing to access the cave. be well prepared and go up in a fine day.

B.

The walk up to this cave is a bit grunty but worth the effort. The cave is quite splendid & the colors shown by the sunlight quite lively.

K. H.

The waihiti cave is a big surprise. The road itself is rocky. After that you have to make a 45 minutes walk. The first 20 minutes are okay, but then a steep rise is starting. Do NOT do this on a rainy day or after a rainy day. It is slippery clay and rocks all the way up, but it's worth it!!!

D. H.

Not an easy walk, challenging for older people, but worth the effort.stunning scenery and really fresh on a hot day in the cave.walk through bush, so doable on sunny days.

A. O.

Amazing phytokarst formations and cave and a wonderful native bush valley walk before a pretty steep climb up but well worth it. Wild goats, bird life and flora and even the sound of calling kiwis.

T. W. F.

Cave which represents a unique example of phytokarst. Access is done through a non-sealed road which leads to a small parking. Nice 1h30 walk to get there.

J.

Very cool caves at the end of a short hike. The hike was very flat at first and then went up for a while

L. B.

This is a very hard adventure. Take water, good trekking shoes and be patient. The road is hard and steep. Be very careful. I don't recommend to do it with kids.

C.

Wear hiking boots and bring water! Hike was challenging and tiring. Very muddy & slippery, especially when coming down. Be careful! Cave was impressive, worth it. 45mins one-way

C. S.

Awesome cave, I think I got lucky when I went as there were Kaka flying around the area about half way up the track. Awesome birds.

j. g. r.

A very impressive place! Well worth the nice walk up to the cave, but difficult to do it justice in photos due to its huge size and outstanding beauty - some angles from higher up might work for the entrance, but inside you will need to find good contrast and have people in the photos to really capture its size.

A. F.

Very very cool. Well worth the hike up. First half of the walk is easy the rest not so. Its steep and a little tricky. Moderate fitness required.

D. R.

Great cave to visit. The track is tough. 40 minutes if you walk fast. The track is poorly formed in some areas and slips/tree falls can change it (and do). If it has rained i suggest giving it a few days as it can be extremely slippery. Cave is awe inspiring and well worth the effort.

M. K.

Amazing spot! If you walk slow, takes 1 hour to go up there, fast walking, 40 minutes one way, but it's definitely worth it. It's very beautiful cave and breathtaking. My favorite cave in NZ so far.

M. M.

Super cool! I'm happy I brought my trekking pole. It was worth the ascent. Be careful on the way down with sliding.

P. A.

Impressive cave entrance area. Worth the climb if you can tackle a very steep, rough track

J. C.

Great little hike, cave is massive with a viewing platform at the bottom. The cove does drip from the ceiling so keep the in mind when you go in.

F.

Very cool cave, which you should definitely look at if you are nearby.

E. H.

Amazing place. Pity there aren't know handrails down by the cave entrance as there are a few exposed edges. Rather slippery as it had been raining a few days earlier. Rather steep incline to get there and a really narrow track. Have to scramble up in a few places. Took us about 35 minutes to get up which included stops.

R. B.

1/2 hour easy walk, then 1/2hour very step track. Worth it when you arrive

B. C.

Beautiful Cave, amazing scenery and worth the hike! Never seen a cave like it before. Hike itself quite challenging (especially as we went the day after heavy rain- the track was super slippery and muddy). Would definitely recommend good hiking shoes. Also the second half of the walk is very very steep, not steps but rocks and tree roots covered in mud etc. So quite easy to slip over if not prepared. The incline is also very challenging so only go up If you have a reasonable level of fitness and some experience hiking in this kind of track.

M. H.

1 hour and 30min return. Big climb up steep muddy walk to the top. Cave is on the top not down the bottom! Awesome cave worth the trek. Just have appropriate clothes and shoes and expect at least an hour.

A. R.

Awesome cave. Well worth the walk. Yes it's a bit steep to get up there, but you get out what you put in! It's not over done with DOC steps all the way up etc so you still feel you are exploring. Takes about half an hour or so depending on stops.

F. H.

This is a magnificent walk to a stunning cave that is totally unexpected! Not for the faint hearted as it's quite a steep track, but totally worth it when you get to the cave. Probably best to avoid it when wet as I imagine it would be quite slippery....or maybe just more of a challenge :-)

A. D.

Incredible cave, worth the hard climb. Also enjoyed the surrounding native bush, such a treat. However, the track is narrow, rough, and dangerous. Just keep that in mind.

A. F.

Great place, nice steep hike up 😉

C. L.

Fabulous walk. Sunny morning. Crossed the dry riverbed, walked 15 minutes of an easy amble, then started uphill. Took 30 minutes Pretty hard slog for an unfit person. Beautiful native bush. I wouldn't recommend walking it after some rain, the path is packed mud, so could be very slippery. Definitely worth the hike. Spectacular cave and example of stalagmites/tites.

H. d. G.

One off the most nervebreaking hikes with kids, take enough water and some food. Totally worth the effort, the caves are a magical place to be where time is shown.... These caves were formed long before human presence and will still be there when we go extinct. We hiked after 24 hours of rain, mud up to our shoulders...

R. P.

The road to the start of the cave track is poorly sign posted so we just followed google maps. We then entered private farm track still with little hand painted arrows pointing the way. At this point we considered turning around, so glad we didn't. The track starts of flat and is so picturesque but get ready as you are about to have a good climb requiring a fair bit of fitness. It is worth it though, the cave is amazing

S. C.

This was not well sign posted to get to, but definitely worth it. Don't turn back if you encounter farmland, you have to cross some to get to the start of the walk. Approx 2km to the cave, it took us around 50 mins at a slow to moderate pace in the rain including navigating the steep slippery end section of the track. 100% worth the effort, I'd never seen anything similar before. Incredibly cool. We also saw bonus goats! Would recommend being prepared with warm clothes, jacket, torch, first aid kit etc. We started at 4pm and was starting to get dark as we came down.

T. M.

Amazing ...it's just enter without access but nice!

A. O.

This place is astounding and hard to believe it is so accessible. Stunning and surprising. The walk up is a bit challenging but most people can do it - at fast pace approx 20 mins up and slower around 35.

T. R.

Very steep and long climb with a rewarding view at the end. The cave is nice and cold against the humid forest air, a great contrast for all senses. Do wear proper shoes - the walk is doable in hawaiians, but sometimes quite dangerous.

S. “.

Went to caves with kids but never recommend to take kids due to slippery and rocky track. Very hard to climb up and coming down is more challenging. Its very dangerous to go with kids and never recommended to take risk with children. No one can help if someone slips..

T.

Great hike! Awesome views at the cave- bring good shoes and water- you’ll need them, this is a challenging short hike for people who aren’t used to hiking of course, but it is rewarding none the less!

J. B.

Awesome. Route can be challenging as mentioned before,mainly when wet. But we met small kid and older lady on their way down - you just need to tough up :) its worth it 100%...and i saw some serious caves before :)

J. A.

Amazing caves. The hike to get there is strenuous for the last 20 mins. Definitely something to do in the area. Real hidden gem. Should not be attempted after rain as the uphill is slippery slope.

T.

Stunning cave. The walk is a steep, rocky, and sometimes narrow path to a viewing platform located just inside the cave. The number of stalactites is astounding and the colours beautiful.

M. K.

Impressive cave! Hard to find a place with that many stalactites. Easy to see without a torch. Not that touristy as its a little bit more difficult to reach. Some steep hiking is necessary for the rewarding views.

P. A.

Worth the effort walking to the cave.. wear good shoes and be prepared for about 30 minutes of slow and relative steep walking .. stick with it as the caves really have a wow factor ... recommended 🖒

J. K.

Worth the walk. Small platform in the entrance is as deep as one allowed to go down. Try get there when the sun the shining straight into the cave (early morning).

L.

If the trail is wet it's very slippery, especially difficult when you descend. The cave is beautiful and worth it though.

K. N.

Good hard walk. 2.2 km. First 1/2 is an easy stroll then straight up. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the top

S. N.

About 45min walk for a fit person half flat and half steep well worth it

M. M.

For myself one of the most beautiful and special places in the world!

D. N. A.

Steep walk but worth it. 45min quick hike up, about 2kms one way. Walking sticks can help.

K. R.

Difficult and really steep walk up there and also down. I fell one time cause it was so slippery. But definitely worth it. Impressive all the stalactites. And for free.

M. M.

Just beautiful. Be careful when going up and down too,very but very slippery, requires energy and concentration on the path. Take a lot of care and enjoy!

G. P.

It's a cave formed more than one million years ago. The way walking to there is steep, however it's so fun.

C. V.

Beautiful cave in the forest. Access by a 45mn step walk but you need to do it ! Worth it

O. J.

Google maps marker is at the trailhead/carpark. A bit of walking on the rocky riverbed and on steep hillside is required to get to the cave.

E. W.

Wow, what a cool cave, definitely worth the steep walk up😀

C. L.

Quite a climb but a great viewing platform to check out a unique cave.

L. F.

amazing spot. the hike up is a tough 45 minutes but easier on the way down

E. S.

A moderately tough incline. Wear appropriate running shoes or boots. Such an amazing untouched area hidden away

R. T.

Unbelievably beautiful, but it's super slippery, be careful and don't go if it's wet.

C. V.

Was an amazing cave. Hard work on the steep track for the second half.

J. M.

Lovely walk and a cool cave to check out.

J. K.

Huge cave. Quiet a bit uphill to get there, but worth it!

D. G.

The 2.2 km walk in was not an easy walk. But when you get there it is worth it.

E. P.

Amazing open cave, worth the hike

T. O.

Well worth the climb

I. G.

Have to climb 2.2 km to see this Cave ... And it takes abt 1hr

G. P.

It is a tough, steep walk, but totally worth it

L. V.

Fantastic cave...brisk walk uphill ...lots of stellignite.. stelligmites

R. E.

The vertical hike was worth it at the end to see the caves

G. W.

Don't go in jandals

S. N.

Awesome walk. Worth the climb

S. L.

Interesting limestone cave with awesome stalactite formations.

P. B.

Very beautiful, amazing!

R. S. Q.

Amazing rawhiti cave 100% reccomend

C. Z.

Amazing wonder of nature after a bit of a climb

R. V.

Steep walk, worth the effort

B. d. J.

Well worth the hike

j. 2.

Good hiking trails

J. W.

Short but VERY STEEP climb up to the caves

R. G.

Well worth the walk

S. P.

Must visit!!!!!

K. F.

Hidden gem

R.

(Translated) The hike to the cave is quite short but strenuous (2km, 1km of which is very steep). Unfortunately, the path is not particularly attractive. The cave itself is beautiful - but after 2 minutes I saw everything. I would rather recommend other hikes in the region (e.g. Farewell Spit or Abel Tasman) - there are simply more beautiful places in this wonderful corner of the world. (Original) Die Wanderung zur Höhle ist recht kurz aber anstrengend (2km, davon 1km sehr steil). Leider ist der Weg nicht sonderlich reizvoll. Die Höhle selbst ist schön - aber man hat nach 2 Minuten mE auch alles gesehen. Ich würde eher zu anderen Wanderungen in der Region raten (zB Farewell Spit oder Abel Tasman) - es gibt einfach noch schönere Orte in dieser wundervollen Ecke der Welt.

A.

(Translated) Excellent caves with stone stalactites formed with calcium and plants. The road is short (2.1km) but steep; about an hour and a half round trip. (Original) Excelente cuevas con estalactitas de piedra formadas con calcio y plantas. El camino es corto (2.1km) pero empinado; alrededor de una hora y media ida y vuelta.

Y.

(Translated) Arrived at 40-50mins Without stairs, the slope is very steep The scene is very spectacular 🙌🏼 (Original) 40-50mins到達 沒有樓梯，坡度也非常陡峭 景象非常壯觀 🙌🏼

z.

(Translated) A very good place that you can easily go to. However, it is hard to cross the river on a rainy day. (Original) 気軽に行けて、とても良いところ。ただ、雨の日にいくと川を渡るのが大変です。

D.

(Translated) Unique in the world! Absolutely stunning! I was absolutely not expecting it ... and yet ... at the end of the day 2 hours before sunset is ideal! Ps; yes the end it climbs SEC! (Original) Unique au monde! Absolument magnifique! Je ne m'y attendais absolument pas... et pourtant... en fin de journée 2h avant le couché du soleil est l'idéal! Ps; oui la fin ça grimpe SEC!

a.

(Translated) Location not frequented by tourists who are in the golden bay. A little walk of an hour with a nice climb at the end but the effort is rewarded (Original) Endroit peu frequente par les touristes qui sont dans la golden bay. Une petite ballade d une heure avec une belle grimpette a la fin mais l effort est recompense

A.

(Translated) Great scenery, steep trail. (Original) Otima paisagem, trilha íngreme.

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