Photo - Mick Hopkinson descends freely down into Harwoods Hole and Starlight cave system.
Near Motueka, at the top of Takaka Hill is a massive sinkhole known as Harwood's Hole. An intricate network of hidden limestone caves runs through the hill. One of the largest daylight shafts in the world (200m down and more than 15m in diameter) it is a spectacular sight leading to an abseiler's paradise. Access the caves from Canaan Downs via a walking track through native bush with stunning rock formations framing the paths. Cavers can abseil down into Harwood's depths and emerge at a cave system near Takaka.
First discovered in 1957 it was measured at -357m deep. At the time NZ's deepest.
In 1960 Peter Lambert was killed when vibrations caused by the powered winch they were using to raise cavers up out of the hole caused a large boulder to come free of the cliff removing one team members foot and hitting Peter on the head.
In 1986 the Nettlebed system was discovered and measured at 884m deep.
Photo - Leanne Leadbetter, nervous on the Taipo River, at home underground! Deep inside the Starlight cave system.
Any ideas where i can get a map of the caves?
ReplyDeleteRegards, Rusty