One of Golden Bay’s things to do (other than glorious Abel Tasman beaches) is a cave exploration. Takaka is home to Rawhiti, Museum natural cave. The cave is striking for its large stalagmites and twilight flora. Rawhiti, Museum Caves are enormous with a very wide 40 metre opening allowing the sunlight to penetrate. The dramatic entrance is a highlight on a beautiful walk through the original forest.
CLOSED DUE TO ROCK FALL – CHECK RAWHITI CAVES Department of Conservation online resource for updates.
THINGS TO DO WHILE EXPLORING RAWHITI CAVE SYSTEM, NELSON
- A walk through native forest, nikau trees providing a shady canopy to the entrance
- Viewing platform with twilight zone plants, algae, stalactites and stalagmites
What to look out for while walking to Rawhiti Caves:
- Unlit natural caves with uneven ground
- Steep staircase to the the entrance
- Torches, hiking boots required
Golden Bay is home to fascinating rocky landscapes from limestone outcrops, marble mountains and sparkling clear waterways.
The cave system is free to enter and is unsupervised. The walk is 2.2 km one way. Grade moderate due to the uneven ground and steep sections.
Fascinated by rock formations? Golden Bay offers visitors Split Apple Rock and the remote Wharariki Beach plenty of weathered rock sculptures to discover.
HOW TO GET TO TAKAKA, RAWHITI CAVE SYSTEM
Rawhiti Cave Track, Motupipi 7183
Approximately 15 minutes drive from Takaka.
The surrounding forest is New Zealand podocarp with rimu, matai, southern rata and miro trees. Groves of nikau palms and ferns patterns the Rawhiti walk with dappled green tinted shade.
The walk is along the DRY RIVER bed on a marked Department of Conservation trail. The walk is steep in parts as you approach the 450 metre bluffs where the caves are located.
In times of heavy rain the DRY RIVER can fill suddenly, it is dangerous to proceed at this point.
In Takaka take the opportunity to explore:
WHAT IS THERE TO DO NEARBY RAWHITI CAVES, GOLDEN BAY?
Nearby Takaka, is the historic town of Collingwood. Collingwood is the gateway settlement to Farewell Spit, South Island.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE
