Harwoods Hole is a cave system located in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand, in the Abel Tasman National Park. At , it is New Zealand's deepest vertical shaft. It was first explored in 1958, long after it was discovered. The track to Harwoods Hole is no longer marked or maintained by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Formation

Evidence suggests that run-off from an area of approximately 20 square km converged into a stream that then flowed down a dry valley to create what is now Harwoods Hole. Since then the river appears to have changed course. Subsequently, Harwoods Hole receives water through sinkholes and surrounding dry valleys; this water then percolates through surrounding rock ensuring it becomes saturated with calcite, before entering the cave where the calcite is deposited. This second phase means that rather than expanding, Harwoods Hole is being filled in.

History

It is one of several important cave systems in Tākaka Hill, between Golden Bay and Tasman Bay. Starting at the surface as a diameter entrance and descending , It remained untouched until seven cavers explored it over the 1958/59 summer. With a home-built winch weighing , the first person was lowered down on 28 December 1958. Upon completion of the initial exploration, Harwoods Hole became the deepest explored cave in New Zealand, a record that was later broken by Nettlebed Cave in the nearby Mount Arthur region.

Near the top of Tākaka Hill on State Highway 60, an unsealed side road leading to Harwoods Hole is sign-posted. After , a car park is reached. From here, a walking track formerly gave access to Harwoods Hole.

See also

  • List of caves in New Zealand

References

  • Harwoods Hole Caving Guidelines
  • New Zealand Speleological Society Homepage