Nikau Cave & Cafe
Nikau Cave & Cafe
Date: Sunday 19th January
What: Nikau Cave & Cafe
When: 9am PROMPT departure from BP Drury
Meet Point Auckland: BP Drury, the big BP on the left of the Motorway, just after the Papakura exit (the usual meet point)
Meet Point Waikato: ?? ???
Caving booked time: 11am
Caving & Cafe address: 1779 Waikaretu Valley Rd, Tuakau 2695
What to bring: Your car, full tank of gas - (no gas stations nearby), sun tan lotion, money for lunch and caving (eftpos & cash only - no credit cards accepted), CHANGE OF CLOTHES FOR AFTERWARDS AS YOU WILL GET DIRTY, SOLID CLOSED IN SHOES OR OLD RUNNING SHOES WITH GOOD GRIP MAYBE OK
gold coins for our clubs charity collection for St Johns
Website: http://nikaucave.co.nz/cave/
Phone: 09 233 3199
Cost for Cave Tour: Adult: $35 *, Child (Still at School): $18 * (The maximum group size is 10 people per guide – larger groups will be divided between several guides.)
(Children around 5 - 7 years of age will be at the discretion of the guide
GEAR: They supply a torch and hardhat. [If you have a hard hat and a bright waterproof torch you are welcome to bring your own - they don't seem to give any discount if you do though.] - suitable attire is shorts and a tshirt (inside the cave isn't cold so no jersey required)
Event organiser: Bronzee
Directions from Auckland: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directi ... -auckland/
Directions from Hamilton: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directi ... -hamilton/
Directions From Port Waikato: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directi ... t-waikato/
Directions from Raglan: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directions-from-raglan/
This is an amazing experience, for those that have caved before or those that have never been caving before.
The Nikau Cave is 1 km long, has a stream running through it and is in its natural state.
The tour departs from the café and usually takes one and a half hours. The walk to and from the cave is through a working farm and native rainforest. The tour follows the river which runs through the cave, this means feet will get wet. Most of the cave is open and spacious except for a 12 metre length, which must be crawled through, you will get wet in this section.
An experienced guide will lead you through the cave and will point out many interesting features and give you some background on their formation.
A wide variety of stalactites and stalagmites can be seen, including giant pillars, fine straws and flowing shawls. The cave has an abundance of calcite formations and many glow-worms. The glow-worms and their dewy threads may be studied up close. In the big, cathedral-like cavern they resemble the night sky.
The cave environment is fragile and visitors must help them preserve this special place by taking great care not to touch and damage formations or glow-worms.
At the end of the cave steps lead up through a beautiful native rainforest. The final leg of the tour comes out onto the farm with wide views and a glimpse of the sea, before returning downhill to the café.
A good level of fitness is required. If you have any concerns about the physical requirements or you have a medical condition or history of claustrophobia, please discuss this in advance with one of our guides.
The recommended age limit is 7 years old, however children from 5-7 years will be considered at the discretion of the guide, please discuss this with us.
They provide you with a helmet and a flashlight.
Clothing and footwear can be hired by arrangement & there is a changing room on site. We recommend that you bring clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, and walking shoes with good grip. A change of clothes for afterwards is advised.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T FANCY THE CAVING, there is a fabulous cafe on site to site and take in surrounding and the amazing pancake rock formations in the steep hills behind the cafe.
FOR ALL ATTENDING, INCLUDING THE CAFE SET, PLEASE BRING RUNNING SHOES OR WALKING SHOES, AS WE WILL GO FOR A GENTLE WALK ALONG THE ROAD AND ALONG THE RIVER TO A NEAT WATERFALL THAT YOU CAN STAND UNDER AND COOL OFF!!
ALL VALUABLES INCLUDING CAR KEYS, CELL PHONES ETC TO BE LEFT IN THE CUPBOARD AT THE CAFE OR WITH THE PEOPLE STAYING AT THE CAFE NOT DOING THE WALK, SO NOTHING GETS LOST OR IS DAMAGED.
ALL ATTENDING, CAFE OR CAVING MUST PRE-REGISTER!!
Please ensure you're there on time!!!!
What: Nikau Cave & Cafe
When: 9am PROMPT departure from BP Drury
Meet Point Auckland: BP Drury, the big BP on the left of the Motorway, just after the Papakura exit (the usual meet point)
Meet Point Waikato: ?? ???
Caving booked time: 11am
Caving & Cafe address: 1779 Waikaretu Valley Rd, Tuakau 2695
What to bring: Your car, full tank of gas - (no gas stations nearby), sun tan lotion, money for lunch and caving (eftpos & cash only - no credit cards accepted), CHANGE OF CLOTHES FOR AFTERWARDS AS YOU WILL GET DIRTY, SOLID CLOSED IN SHOES OR OLD RUNNING SHOES WITH GOOD GRIP MAYBE OK
gold coins for our clubs charity collection for St Johns
Website: http://nikaucave.co.nz/cave/
Phone: 09 233 3199
Cost for Cave Tour: Adult: $35 *, Child (Still at School): $18 * (The maximum group size is 10 people per guide – larger groups will be divided between several guides.)
(Children around 5 - 7 years of age will be at the discretion of the guide
GEAR: They supply a torch and hardhat. [If you have a hard hat and a bright waterproof torch you are welcome to bring your own - they don't seem to give any discount if you do though.] - suitable attire is shorts and a tshirt (inside the cave isn't cold so no jersey required)
Event organiser: Bronzee
Directions from Auckland: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directi ... -auckland/
Directions from Hamilton: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directi ... -hamilton/
Directions From Port Waikato: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directi ... t-waikato/
Directions from Raglan: http://nikaucave.co.nz/location/directions-from-raglan/
This is an amazing experience, for those that have caved before or those that have never been caving before.
The Nikau Cave is 1 km long, has a stream running through it and is in its natural state.
The tour departs from the café and usually takes one and a half hours. The walk to and from the cave is through a working farm and native rainforest. The tour follows the river which runs through the cave, this means feet will get wet. Most of the cave is open and spacious except for a 12 metre length, which must be crawled through, you will get wet in this section.
An experienced guide will lead you through the cave and will point out many interesting features and give you some background on their formation.
A wide variety of stalactites and stalagmites can be seen, including giant pillars, fine straws and flowing shawls. The cave has an abundance of calcite formations and many glow-worms. The glow-worms and their dewy threads may be studied up close. In the big, cathedral-like cavern they resemble the night sky.
The cave environment is fragile and visitors must help them preserve this special place by taking great care not to touch and damage formations or glow-worms.
At the end of the cave steps lead up through a beautiful native rainforest. The final leg of the tour comes out onto the farm with wide views and a glimpse of the sea, before returning downhill to the café.
A good level of fitness is required. If you have any concerns about the physical requirements or you have a medical condition or history of claustrophobia, please discuss this in advance with one of our guides.
The recommended age limit is 7 years old, however children from 5-7 years will be considered at the discretion of the guide, please discuss this with us.
They provide you with a helmet and a flashlight.
Clothing and footwear can be hired by arrangement & there is a changing room on site. We recommend that you bring clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, and walking shoes with good grip. A change of clothes for afterwards is advised.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T FANCY THE CAVING, there is a fabulous cafe on site to site and take in surrounding and the amazing pancake rock formations in the steep hills behind the cafe.
FOR ALL ATTENDING, INCLUDING THE CAFE SET, PLEASE BRING RUNNING SHOES OR WALKING SHOES, AS WE WILL GO FOR A GENTLE WALK ALONG THE ROAD AND ALONG THE RIVER TO A NEAT WATERFALL THAT YOU CAN STAND UNDER AND COOL OFF!!
ALL VALUABLES INCLUDING CAR KEYS, CELL PHONES ETC TO BE LEFT IN THE CUPBOARD AT THE CAFE OR WITH THE PEOPLE STAYING AT THE CAFE NOT DOING THE WALK, SO NOTHING GETS LOST OR IS DAMAGED.
ALL ATTENDING, CAFE OR CAVING MUST PRE-REGISTER!!
Please ensure you're there on time!!!!
Last edited by Z Club on Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:19 pm, edited 7 times in total.
This is a really cool experience! It's rare to have the opportunity to see glow worms up that close and some stalactites and stalagmites glow when you shine a torch on them. Although you're not permitted to touch either, as the acid from human skin damages the formations.
The drive out there is fabulous, quiet windy roads, running mostly along the ridge top.
The caves, the waterfall and the cafe and the drive there and back is all magic, definitely worth doing. And something different to do, especially as all those that joined in for the Karangahake Gorge Walk about about 4 years ago, this goes to a different level again!
They've had a number of car clubs through the Nikau Caves, so they're used to lots of cars arriving.
If you have any questions fire them up, and will endeavour to answer.
The drive out there is fabulous, quiet windy roads, running mostly along the ridge top.
The caves, the waterfall and the cafe and the drive there and back is all magic, definitely worth doing. And something different to do, especially as all those that joined in for the Karangahake Gorge Walk about about 4 years ago, this goes to a different level again!
They've had a number of car clubs through the Nikau Caves, so they're used to lots of cars arriving.
If you have any questions fire them up, and will endeavour to answer.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
- willythefish
- Posts: 127
- Location: Rotorua
Agree its a fantastic drive. Lovely cafe. I am looking forward to trying the cave
It certainly is. One of the more interesting caves I've been into in NZ.willythefish wrote:Agree its a fantastic drive. Lovely cafe. I am looking forward to trying the cave
Don't forget to register folks! Will be staggered groups of 10.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
Bump. Last time I went through these caves, the youngest in the group was 9 and the oldest 68, no age isn't a bar, if you're up for a bit of an adventure. Only the very first bit is a crawl, and not hard to cope with, even if you've not been caving before.
Really cool thing to do.
Really cool thing to do.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
I will be confirming numbers with the Nikau Cave people on Friday (as they need to know how many guides they need for the day), so please ensure you've registered before then.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
I have just confirmed numbers for the Caving on Sunday. If anyone changes their mind in the next couple of hours, please let me know via PM, text or call straight away as I will need to let the caving people know that there's been an increase in numbers, as we may have different group joining into our 11am block of time.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
Pity there weren't more people today. We had an absolute blast! Quiet motorway down to Mercer bar quite a few cars heading off to Festival of Speed, was like a moving car show. Then from Mercer 50kms on quiet windy ridge top roads with spectacular views, fantastic driving. Then the caving, really cool again (for me), then driving back I only saw 3 cars covering the 45kms back to Mercer, only nearing Mercer did I start to see cars again.
Many thanks to Big Sam and his partner for the company.
Perfect day out.
Many thanks to Big Sam and his partner for the company.
Perfect day out.
Next - Z Club events:
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.
= Check out events page here or our Z Club NZ Facebook page.