Cave Stream (after Hogs Back Track Hike)

I took a small group of people through Cave Stream last weekend and a few could not make it so we doing it again. We are doing the Hogs Back Track Hike (Castle Hill Village) this Sunday (see https://www.meetup.com/epic6nz/events/238023737/) Its a great way to cool of after a walk so some to both events or meet us about 2:30pm at Cave Stream

The water was not that cold and you ready just need good shoes and head torches and you do need to use both hands from time to time it took us about 45min.

WHAT DO I NEED?

Good reliable torches are essential as most of the way is in pitch darkness. Take spare batteries, and even a spare torch. Head torches are recommended so your hands are free for climbing. Put a neck lanyard around hand torches so you don’t accidentally drop them. Although it is not recommended to enter the cave alone, if you are, take at least two sources of light!

Warm clothes (thermal underwear, nylon shorts, woollen top; wet-suits are best), as the tunnel is cold and damp.

CAUTIONS!

Do not enter the cave if it is raining, rain is forecast, it looks like it is raining on the Craigieburn Range, or the Broken River / Cave Stream is running discoloured or high! It only takes about 30 minutes for heavy rain on the ranges to reach the cave entrance and cause flooding.

WHERE IS IT?

Cave Stream Scenic Reserve is 46km from Arthur’s Pass Village towards Christchurch. The turn off to the reserve is easy to miss – it is on the left hand side as you are driving towards Christchurch, in the middle of a large bend just before the descent to cross Broken River.

A metalled road leads to a car park on the terrace above the cave.

WHAT IS IT?

The reserve covers 16 hectares, the main feature being the cave itself, but the area is also the site of some spectacular limestone cliffs, gorges and outcrops of limestone boulders.

The cave or tunnel, is formed by the Cave stream, as it flows through serpentine underground passage for 594 metres (it is only 362 metres between entrances on the surface). The cave can be traversed with care by inexperienced cavers.

To simply view the cave; two lookout platforms exist overlooking the upper & lower entrances.

The best way to traverse the cave is to enter the cave at the outlet end. Follow the new track to Broken River, you may need to cross the river twice to get to the cave. If the river is too high to cross, more than likely the water level in the cave will be dangerously high as well and should NOT be entered!