An easy cave adventure at Punakaiki...
The whole of the coastline around Punakaiki is limestone karst country so it is riddled with caves, caverns, overhangs and sinkholes. There is a large cavern just before Punakaiki Settlement which goes back into the hillside for around 50 meters and is big enough to stand up inside.
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| The entrance to the Punakaiki Cavern from SH6 at Punakaiki |
Karen and I visited the cavern during our recent trip to Punakaiki and the surrounding area. We parked up at the big car-park for the Pancake Rocks and walked the 300 odd meters along SH6 to get to the cave. There is a small parking bay near the cavern but it was full...it will only hold 3-4 cars so it will usually be full.
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| Map: Punakaiki Cavern is about 200 meters south of the settlement |
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| Punakaiki Cavern: it is hard to see the cavern from outside.... |
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| Information panel outside the portal of Punakaiki Cavern |
The cavern has been carved out of the rock by water...over the eons rain water has eroded channels through the rock which have enlarged into caverns, caves and tunnels. This cavern might well have been developing for tens of thousands of years...it is probably not older than this as it has only the barest beginning of stalactites growing in it.
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| Punakaiki Cavern: the stairs leading up to the portal... |
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| View out of the portal of Punakaiki Cavern, West Coast |
There are two arms to the cavern at Punakaiki..the right one is short at around 20 meters and peters out at a small tunnel too small for a person to fit through. The left hand arm is much longer and can be navigated almost to its furthest reach about 50 meters into the hillside. Both are large enough to stand in although you have to squeeze through a tight point on the left hand arm to reach the back.
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| The right hand arm of Punakaiki Cavern |
Note that once you get past the portal it is hellishly dark in the cave system so you need to bring a torch with you so you can see where you are going. Boots and a jacket can also be useful...it is muddy and a good 10 degrees colder in the cavern than outside.
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| Beginnings of stalactites on the roof of Punakaiki Cavern |
The cavern is free to access and there are a set of stairs at the portal to make it easier to get into the cavern. DOC have placed reflective markers in the cavern so you can follow them to the end of the two navigable arms and back to the entrance.
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| Punakaiki Cavern, Punakaiki: Karen thinks it looks like a butt... |
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| The extreme end of the left hand arm of Punakaiki Cavern |
The interior surface of the cave is damp clay and it can be quite slippery and will easily mark your clothing with patches of soil. We both had to dust ourselves down after being in the cave and our hands were covered with clay dust.
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| The small stream through Punakaiki Cavern, Punakaiki |
In times of heavy rain there is a small stream which runs along the floor of the cavern...you can still enter but it will probably be wet and muddy. Karst stone is absolutely full of holes, cracks and passages ...water can still be percolating down weeks after any rain. It was a dry week when we visited and there was still about a cm of water constantly flowing along the stream bed.
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| Punakaiki Cavern, Punakaiki: Jon in the portal as seen from inside... |
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| Punakaiki Cavern, Punakaiki: Karen heading out of the cavern portal... |
I must admit that I am uneasy in caves and caverns...living through the effect and aftermath of two major earthquakes has dented my faith in the integrity of caves. Look at Cave Rock and Redcliffs Cave in Christchurch..they seemed indestructible and a bastion against the ages. Both sustained major damage and Redcliffs Cave has been permanently closed as it is too dangerous to enter.
Nothing lasts forever....it is the nature of things.
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| Karen at the entrance to Punakaiki Cavern, Punakaiki |
A visit to the cave is a great filler exercise, you can explore the whole cavern system in under 15 minutes so this is a great experience if you are travelling through the area. We visited on the way back from visiting Truman's Track.
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| Punakaiki Cavern as seen from across SH6 at Punakaiki |
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| View along SH6 from near Punakaiki Cavern |
If you are ever spending a few days around Punakaiki go down and have an explore in the cavern.
Access: Punakaiki Cavern is on SH6 approximately 200 meters south of the Punakaiki Tavern on the inland side of the road. It is well sign posted and visible from the highway.
Track Times: It only takes 15 minutes to fully explore Punakaiki Cavern, it takes 5-10 minutes to walk from the Pancake Rocks car park to the cavern entrance.
Miscellaneous:Some slippery rocks inside the cavern so boots or grippy shoes are the best thing to wear when visiting. It is significantly colder inside the cavern so bring a warm top. There are stairs at the entrance to the portal.
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