Rawhiti Cave

This phenomenon, called phytokarst, is most evident on the larger stalactites near the cave entrance, which are strongly curved outwards due to the heavy moss and fern growth on their sunlit sides.

During winter months, sunlight reaches the back wall of the cavern, creating viable conditions for some species of algae to survive at the lower limit of light availability for photosynthesis.

[7] Rawhiti Cave was originally formed some one million years ago, before Dry River cut the valley deeper to its present position.

[8] In the early 1900s, Darcy Manson, son of the landowner, cut a track to the cave and took people there on tours until the late 1920s.

[1] The viewing platform inside the cave entrance includes information panels and is still well enough lit that no torches are needed.