Ngarua Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Near Motueka, on Takaka Hill, near Takaka Hill Pass (800m).
Open:
Fee:	Adult $6.
Classification:	Karst cave (marble?).
Light:	electric.
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Bibliography:
Address:	Mike and Lorraine Endres, PO Box 6009 Riwaka, Takaka Hill, Motueka, Tel: +64-3-528-8093. E-mail:
Last update:	$Date: 2008/10/09 18:36:35 $

History


1884		discovered.
1970		developed by Hickmott Bros.

Description

Ngarua Cave was discovered by bushmen clearing the hillside of scrub, after a bushfire had destroyed the surrounding bush. The early settlers visited the cave by horse coach. As visitors destroyed and removed stalactites and wrote their names on the formations, the cave was locked up for several years. The latest development of the cave is a second entrance, allowing one way tours through the cave.

In the cave several remains of the famous birds of New Zealand were found. A complete skeleton of a Moa is on display.

This area of Takaka Hill is also called Marble Mountain. The rock is marble, which is metamorphic limestone, altered by heat and pressure. The chemistry is still the same: CaCO₃. But the limestone recrystallised which changed its grain and colour. The rock is about 450 Million years old. The marble is quarried near Ngarua Cave and was used to build several buildings in New Zealand: Parliament Buldings, the Beehive in Wellington and the Nelson Cathedral.

Ngarua Caves

Useful Information

History

Description

See also