Rawhiti Cave - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
A 2 hour 3.2 km return walk which is flat and easy for the first half, then the track zig-zags fairly steeply uphill to the cave entrance.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

Click on the arrow button
below to explore this walk.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
The turnoff to Rawhiti Caves is here, near the end of Packards Road.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
The access road crosses private farm land. We always leave farm gates as we found them.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
The track starts here at the carpark.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
Here the track crosses Dry River. After heavy rain, Dry River is prone to flooding. Do not attempt to cross in these conditions.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
The first half of the walk is a gentle climb as the track follows the river upstream.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
At this point the gentle climb is over. Now the serious climb begins.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
The track zig-zags rather steeply uphill.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
When we reach this log, we are at the top.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
This is the view of the cave mouth.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
From this point, the track descends into the cave. The steps are well constructed but they are slippery, so we have to be careful walking down into the cave.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
The viewing platform.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
Stalactites that grow towards the light... Amazing what they can do nowadays.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
Stalagmites.

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
Now we'll head back up and check out the far side of the cave (on the right in this photo).

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park

RAWHITI CAVE - Abel Tasman National Park
Looking back down towards the viewing platform. That's a lot of stalactites...