Metro Cave / Te Ananui Cave facts for kids
The Metro / Te Ananui Caves are an amazing underground world in New Zealand. They are a huge network of limestone caves. These caves were created by Ananui Creek, a stream that now flows underground. This creek is part of the Waitakere or Nile River system.
You can find these cool caves in Paparoa National Park. The Department of Conservation looks after them. Some parts of the caves are open for visitors. You can go on special tours or even try underground rafting! These tours start from a town called Charleston.
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How the Metro Caves Were Formed
Imagine this area 30 million years ago. It was actually under the sea! Over a very long time, the land slowly pushed upwards. This created the karst landscape we see today.
For the last 200,000 years, rain and water have been busy. They slowly dissolved the soft limestone rock. This process shaped both the land above ground and the caves below.
Ancient Discoveries in Te Ananui Cave
Inside Te Ananui Cave, scientists have found some really old things. They discovered fossils and bones! These finds are between 300 and 25,000 years old. The limestone itself also holds fossils of ancient shellfish.
Exploring the Metro Cave Geography
To reach the Te Ananui Caves from Charleston, you take a narrow 3-kilometer road. After that, you get to ride a special bush tram. Then, it's just a short walk to the cave entrance.
The walking path crosses the Waitakere or Nile River. You'll go over a cool suspension bridge. This bridge leads to the Triclops entrance. It's located halfway up the side of the Nile River valley.
The Metro cave system is about 8 kilometers long! The passages get newer as you move from west to east. This shows how the caves developed over time.
Cave Formations and Underground Streams
As the land lifted higher, the upper parts of the caves became dry. In these dry areas, amazing cave formations have grown. These include stalactites and stalagmites.
The lower parts of the caves are still wet. Underground streams continue to flow through them. These streams are always shaping and changing the cave passages.
There's an easy, dry path from the Triclops entrance. This path leads all the way to the Ananui Creek entrance.
Fun Activities at Metro Caves
A tour company in Charleston offers different ways to explore the Te Ananui Caves. You can choose a guided walking tour. This tour takes you through the upper levels. It even includes the Nile River Glowworm Cave!
For more adventure, you can try underground rafting. Or, you can go on a full adventure caving trip. A special bush tram track was built in 2002. It helps visitors get from the road to the cave entrance easily.
What to Expect Inside the Caves
The caves are kept in their natural state. There are no ladders or hanging walkways. But don't worry, the upper levels are easy to walk through. It's like walking on a regular hiking path.
The cave system has several large caverns. These caverns are filled with incredible formations. You'll see stalactites, stalagmites, and drapery. You can walk from one entrance to the other in about an hour.
Near the Ananui Creek entrance, there's a partially flooded grotto. This special spot is home to glowworms and cave weta. You can walk along the dry edges of the grotto to see them.
Underground Rafting Adventures
If you choose a cave rafting tour, you'll explore the wetter parts of the caves. You'll float on inflatable tubes. The tour continues down the gentle rapids of the Nile River. It's a unique way to see the underground world!
