Ngarua Caves

Ngarua Caves is a limestone cave system in Takaka Hill with a walkway leading through its interior passages. Along the way, stalactites and stalagmites created by dripping water demonstrate how this natural process shapes stone over thousands of years.

The caves preserve skeletal remains of the extinct Moa, a large flightless bird that lived in New Zealand thousands of years ago. These discoveries show how the caves served as a natural archive of ancient life in the region.

The cave network stands among the 101 recommended attractions for New Zealanders, representing the geological heritage of the Takaka Hill region.

A car is the easiest way to reach these caves since they sit on a hillside accessed via State Highway 60. The walk through the caves is not strenuous, but sturdy shoes are important because the ground is uneven and sometimes wet.

The cave entrance sits high up with views across Tasman Bay and the surrounding limestone landscape. From this vantage point, visitors can see how the entire region is shaped by the same geological forces that carved out these passages.