Rawhiti (meaning Sunshine) Cave is an example of what is known as a Solutional Cave, formed over a million years ago through the dissolution and breadkdown of limestone in the following way: Carbon dioxide from the air combines with rain water and ground water to produce a weak solution of acid called carbonic acid. This acidic water slowly seeps into the limestone bedrock, through cracks or faults produced by tectonic forces, and the cracks start to widen over time. Sinkholes and underground drainage slowly develops and water is captured in certain areas, forming underground streams. Gradually more and more of the rock material between the streams and sinkholes collapses, breaks down and/or is dissolved until a cavern or cave is formed.
The stream which formed this cave over a million years ago is now buried deep below the ground, but the constant dripping of calcium-rich water through cracks in the cave roof - and the resulting calcite deposits caused by evaporation - is what eventually produces the amazing cone-shaped and tubular stalactites you see on the ceiling of Rawhiti Cave. Stalagmites also then grow upward from the floor of the cave, as a result of the slow constant dripping from overhanging stalactites.
There used to be a Traditional Cache here, but it has since been archived, so we have decided to launch an Earth Cache in its place, with another two Traditionals hidden along the same track. So you can claim three smileys for the price of one!
Directions: from Takaka, drive east towards Pohara Beach. At Motupipi turn right into Glenview Road and then left into Packard Road. Rawhiti Cave is signposted from near the end of Packard Road on the left, through private farm land, along a gravel road to an informal car park. You may need to open and close a couple of gates both ways. Please ensure you leave gates exactly as you found them. NO DOGS ALLOWED.
The cave is 2.2 km from the parking area, and should take no more than 45-60 minutes max to get up there. The first part of the track is uneven in parts - you also have to cross a dry river bed, but that shouldn't be a problem for most (unless there has been flash flooding after extremely heavy rain, when you would not be able to cross anyway). The second part of the track zigzags up the hillside and is very steep and narrow, with drop-offs and uneven ground, so we wouldn't recommend it for young children under about 7 or 8.
PLEASE NOTE: There have been a couple of major floods in this area, so parts of the track by the dry river bed and beyond have been washed out and, although maintained, the track is pretty rugged in some areas, so care does need to be taken. We recommend good walking shoes.
Please take EXTREME CARE with children of all ages, and also with any wobbly adults... It may take some huffing and puffing but it really is well worth the climb, but you do need a good level of fitness to do the last 30 minutes or so of the steep climb. It's not a cave that requires a torch. The Department of Conservation now looks after the cave, and they have recently spent some significant dollars on putting in steps and a viewing platform down into the cave, making it even more accessible to everyone.
To log this as a find:
1. Count the number of man-made steps from the cave entrance down to the large viewing platform down inside the cave.
2. What is the basic difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite?
3. Why do you think that vegetation grows in some parts of the interior of the cave and not in others?
Email the answers to these questions to us at: Nomadic2@yahoo.co.nz Please don't put the answers in your log!
You may log this as a find before hearing back from us, but we reserve the right to delete any logs, if the required email answers have not been received within 7 days of your log. Attach a photo to your log if possible.