Rawhiti Cave
{{Short description|Cave in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
File:Rawhiti Cave towards viewing platform.jpg
Rawhiti Cave, also known as Manson Cave, is a single large limestone cave in the hillside of the Dry Creek Valley {{convert|7|km}} southeast of Tākaka on the South Island of New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/takaka-area/things-to-do/tracks/rawhiti-cave-track/|title=Rawhiti Cave Track|publisher=Department of Conservation NZ|access-date=3 February 2016}} It is referred to as Manson Cave in the NZ Topo Map,{{cite web|title=Manson Cave, Tasman – NZ Topo Map|url=http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz41289/Manson-Cave/Tasman|website=NZ Topo Map|publisher=Land Information New Zealand|access-date=3 February 2016}} after owners in the early 20th century,Information panel "Water Catcher", Department of Conservation NZ however the cave is known as Rawhiti Cave locally, and on DoC information panels and in brochures.{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/nelson-marlborough/walks-in-golden-bay.pdf|title=Walks in Golden Bay|page=3|publisher=Department of Conservation NZ|access-date=3 February 2016}}
The cave's entrance is one of the largest cave entrances in New Zealand with an opening of about {{convert|40|m}} wide and up to {{convert|20|m}} tall.{{cite book|last=Lawson|first=Will|date=1920|title=Across Marble Mountains by Motor Car to Cape Farewell, New Zealand|url=http://www.ackma.org/journal/70/Rawhiti%20Caves%20-%20Jane%20Baird.pdf}} The ceiling is densely covered in stalactites which become increasingly finer deeper down into the cave. A short walking track leads halfway down into the cavernous opening to a viewing platform.
Flora
The diverse twilight-zone flora near the entrance of Rawhiti Cave makes this cave nationally significant. Over long periods of time, plant growth on the cave formations causes them to grow towards the sunlight as more calcium carbonate is deposited regularly on top of the plant growth. 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.Information panel "Rawhiti Cave – a nationally significant phytokarst", Department of Conservation NZ
Apart from the short walking track to the viewing platform, the cave is undeveloped and in its natural state. Delicate ferns and mosses grow on the cave's sloping floor, and phytokarst stalagmites also grow towards the light, similarly following the growth pattern of the plant life that helps form and shape them.
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. These algae cover the rear walls in a range of red hues.Information panel "Plant Mosaic", Department of Conservation NZ
History and tourism
Rawhiti Cave was originally formed some one million years ago, before Dry River cut the valley deeper to its present position. The original cave roof has collapsed long ago, forming a massive self-supporting dome leading down to a steep-sided pit formed of loose debris.Information panel "How old is Rawhiti Cave?", Department of Conservation NZ
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. He named the cave Rawhiti, Māori for "sunrise", due to the winter sun shining right to the back of the cave. From 1955 to 2000, the cave was owned by the Baird family, who provided daily tours on demand.{{cite book|last=Baird|first=Jane|date=June 1994|title=Rawhiti Caves, Takaka – New Zealand, Australasian Cave & Karst Management Journal, nr.15|url=http://www.ackma.org/journal/journals_pub.html|publisher=Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association Inc.}} In 2000, the cave's ownership changed to Heritage New Zealand, and the Baird Reserve area is now managed by the Department of Conservation NZ, its {{convert|150|ha}} split into the adjacent Dry River Scenic Reserve and Rawhiti Caves Scenic Reserve.{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/where-to-hunt/nelson-tasman/golden-bay-hunting/where-to-hunt/southern-abel-tasman-national-park/|title=Southern Abel Tasman National Park – East/Upper Takaka Reserves: Golden Bay hunting|publisher=Department of Conservation NZ|access-date=3 February 2016}}
The track to Rawhiti Cave starts at an informal car park on private farm land and leads into the Dry River valley for 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute uphill zigzag track to the cave entrance. The viewing platform inside the cave entrance includes information panels and is still well enough lit that no torches are needed. This is one of very few such caves that is open free of charge to the general public, hence visitors are urged to stick to the path to avoid damaging the fragile environment inside the cave.
See also
References
{{commons category|Rawhiti Cave}}
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{{coord|-40.8853|172.86649|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=title}}
{{Abel Tasman National Park}}
{{Tasman District}}
Category:Caves of the Tasman District
Category:Show caves in New Zealand