Te Ana-au Caves facts for kids
The Te Ana-au Caves are a special group of limestone caves found on the western side of Lake Te Anau in the southwest of New Zealand. These caves are important for both their natural features and their cultural history. They are famous for being home to thousands of tiny, sparkling glowworms.
The caves are quite young in geological terms, only about 12,000 years old. Because of their young age, you will find very few stalactites inside.
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Discovering the Te Ana-au Caves
The Te Ana-au Caves were rediscovered in 1948 by a man named Lawson Burrows. He spent three years searching for them. Lawson followed clues from old Māori legends to find the upper entrance to the caves.
From Discovery to Tourist Spot
After their rediscovery, the caves quickly became a popular place for visitors. Lawson Burrows and his business partner, Wilson Campbell, started a company called Fiordland Travels. This company offered tours into the caves.
Later, in 1965, Olive and Les Hutchins bought the company. They were already involved in tourism in the Fiordland area. Their company eventually changed its name to Real Journeys in 2002. Real Journeys still runs tours to the caves today.
What Does Te Ana-au Mean?
The name "Te Ana-au" comes from the Māori language. It means "The Swirling Cave."
The Meaning Behind the Name
Let's break down the name:
- Te means "the."
- Ana means "cave."
- Au means "swirling."
The name "The Swirling Cave" refers to the water that flows through the caves. This water is called Tunnel Burn, and it comes from Lake Orbell.
Visiting the Glowworm Caves
The Te Ana-au Caves are located within the Murchison Mountains. This area is very important because it's where the rare South Island takahē bird was found again.
Protecting the Caves
Because the caves are very delicate and the area is home to endangered wildlife, access is carefully controlled. You can only visit the caves on a guided tour.
Real Journeys offers daily tours where you travel by punt (a flat-bottomed boat) through the water-filled parts of the caverns. This allows visitors to see the amazing glowworms up close while helping to protect the fragile cave environment.
