Clifden Caves Southland District, South Island, New Zealand
By möp__möp on 01-Jan-19. Waypoint GC7YWZ0

Found this one with TTO1 and TTO2 today. TTO1 and I are touring New Zealand with TTO2 for a couple of weeks and our travels brought us by this cache. So, we just had to stop and find it. Were really enjoying our visit and have been exploring lots of cool spots. Im sure that we will still have a lot that we didnt get to see on this trip, so I look forward to coming back again some time to see some more of this beautiful country. This was a very cool spot to explore. Message sent with our answers to the questions and picture posted showing TTO1 and me in the cave. Favorite Point from me. Thanks for the fun!

We had a great time exploring the caves as far as we could get. There had been a lot of rain and we didnt want to get wet through so we had to turn around before the ladders. We found gloworms though. Thank you x

#4041 Today is day 22 of my geocaching vacation in New Zealand. I'm driving the scenery route from Te Anau to Invercargill and finding geocaches along the way.Found it after climbing through the tight space. Also saw some glow worms.mp__mp, thank you for the cache!-crystaloops from Taipei, Taiwan on October 22, 2024 @ 14:41:18[GC7YWZ0] Clifden Caves was a D2.5/T4.0 Other Earthcache at the time of finding.

Nice and interesting cave, quite a lot people around, and a guide waiting for 30+ students, and he borrowed me a head light.Thanks for the cache./herrFamaxe from Sweden

What a wonderful cache! Unfortunately, clausterphobia and bad knees did us in on this one. We started at entrance 1, but turned around when the quarters got too close. Reentered at 3 hoping to at least get to the stalactites or ladders, but didn't get much further. A guide would have been great, we just stumbled on this cache in our travels and weren't prepared. I wish we could give a favorite point without actually completing the cache. Nice!

A cracking cave walk thanks for the information and experience

Wow! This is just a brilliant location. A challenge to traverse and so interesting to see. Found several glo worms too. And all free too. Observations sent to the CO.FP for the experience.Loved it!

Together with Travelser I'm going Down Under. We are driving around with a motorhome. After 7 weeks driving around through Australia we arrived the 2th November in New Zealand. For ten days we will cross the Northern Island and than for 2 weeks the Southern Island.During our trip we of course search for several caches. Most of them brought us to very nice spots, like this one.All the CO's, and in this case mp__mp, thanks for bringing us here and give our trip a special accent.

After traveling around Australia with Oopie for 7 weeks, we have now been traveling with the camper in New Zealand for 4 weeks. Along the way we will of course also visit various types of caches in beautiful places, including this one.Because we answered the questions together, Oopie will send the answers with your permission.Thanks CO for creating and laying this cache.

Cache 1536 WOW Fave point worth earth cache thats for sure (EC are my least fave type of cache) I would have loved to have spent all day in here!!!!! I wish I was a bit braver though I didnt want to go to deep alone but I thoroughly explored the entrance and the exit of the cave (the exit is way better) this is an amazing spot TYSM for putting this EC here T4TEC

Found this one after a adventure Southland camp that we went through the caves. It is pretty cool in these caves and I have not been before.
Thanks for bringing me here.
Tftc

A beautiful place and an amazing experience of a lifetime.Answers sent and I give a well-deserved heart. Greetings from the Czech Republic and Thanks For This Cache.
Díky za keš.
15:38
Moje 4585

Had great fun going through here again

Cool place to explore.

Was here last about 15 years ago. I remember it was easier to get in then and don't recall crawling so much. Caves must have got narrower? Made it through OK to the lake, a lot lower than I recall last time, all tunnels seemed reasonably dry. Could see a possible way around to the right but looked like a dunk to get to it and didn't look like I could climb out if I failed so stopped there and came back. Plenty of glow-worms and nice stalagmites and stalagtites. Turned light off for a bit but would need to wait some time for eyes to adjust so headed out the way I came. Tried to go in the far exit but some deep pools that way as well. Great fun though but would recommend a helmet, bicycle one would do. Else might skin your scalp like I did.

I haven't been through the caves for about 20 years and in a past life use to take students through it as part of an outdoor education program. I enjoyed my trip with friends from Nelson. CO has been sent answers. Tftc

What’s fun experience!

Definitely one of our favorite NZ spots so far, I learned about this from my partner about an hour before we came and I’m always up for adventure!

Super fun, highly recommended to all, but be careful and please, please don’t be one of these stupid (insert impolite word here) that carves their name or spray paints in the cave.

Anyway, thanks for the epic EarthCache!

9:40-11:05
FITW GreenMenace, Garp Baxter

Wow! These caves were the unexpected and unplanned highlight of the whole NYs road trip for me!

We were camping out at the Clifden bridge last night and our friend said he wants to do the caves again (he had been here some years back). We agreed and went in in the morning. We had the caves to ourselves - there was no one else, except a pair of guys at the start - but they just ventured in for the first 50m or so and went back.

We did the whole thing and got the full caving experience. It had rained a lot the last week so the water level at "the pool" was a bit intimidating but we hugged the wall and went around on the ledge as carefully as we could. Water came up to our knees but no one went for an unexpected swim there

It was fun exploring, looking at all the different formations and squeezing through tight spots. Oh, and glowworms, so many glowworms!

If I'm in the area in the future, I'd like to come back here one more time!
Answers sent 6th Jan 2022

Kia ora! Paldies!
TFTC, möp__möp! +fav
#8554

We spent 3 weeks travelling the south of the South Island (living top of the south) and went to so many cool places. We spent one or max 2 nights at each place, so we really saw a lot. And if someone would ask me now what was the best part I would for sure say Clifden Caves!! On Arthurs Pass we stopped at another cave that was pretty cool and crossed it as well, but this one was even cooler. It's freezing cold (and we did it in summer with beautiful sunshine outside), but just an awesome experience! Very slippery, take care if you use your phone and not a headlight (would really recommend a headlight), take care with your head and be prepared to get wet, like really wet, like swimming if you want to make it to the end. It's the very last bit that we didn't manage to make it without swimming, as it was so slippery. But that was just the added extra, the cherry on the cake, such a great cave!
Of course a fav point from me, answers sent.

An amazing cave - not what we expected at all. Certainly a nice adventure. Just be careful of the rock growth in there. TFTC

We entered with great hope of finding some stalactites but no luck for us, we must have got about 100m into the cave before a pool of water to big for our gummies precluded further progress. So we turned off our lights and the kids got amazed with the glow worms all around - awesome experience. I'd love to come back here in summer time when it's a bit warmer!

Found with Southlandicebergs. We were camping by the bridge overnight so this was one of the activities we did. We only went into the pool but did not go around it then back out. Found by club members Ava, Chloe, Dmitrii

Been through caves many times. Entered Saturday evening with firekitten and I.Pathfinder.C.
The pool was real deep compared to most other trips. The left side ledge water would have been up to my knees.
So it was a retreat. One of our teens had fobias enough so did not want to cause too much pressure and I did not want to get wet as I most probably would have ended wading in to prevent others falling in. Over the years I would have spent over 15 hours walking through.
The formations are always fascinating.
Answers sent to CO. Thanks for setting up this ec.

Found with MrsC on our NZ travels, from the UK, thanks. Answers sent to co.

Tolle Höhle mit super vielen Glühwürmchen, danke für den tollen Tipp und EC von möp__möp! Nachdem die enge Passage relativ am Anfang überwunden wurde, ging's immer weiter rein, allerings nicht ganz bis ans Ende. Tftc!

This one has been on my to do list for far to long .
I have been past the cave to many times to remember I have also been on the farm land all around this area and never been into the caves.
So my daughter school asked for parents to help on a school camp and I put my name down straight away.
And then to my surprise the first day adventure was the caves so with cama in hand and head torch we entered the caves .
With a group if 6 we made our way and looked at the wonders of the caves .
A squeeze though here and there
Got to the cauldron and un like the younger members of the group that all belly flopped into the pool.
I carefully work my way around the top ledge .
Not easily done I could not get my phone wet .
Up the next 3 obstacles and soon out .
Wr did take the time to get to group to be quite and with lights out the glow worms put on a spectacular display.
I had great pleasure in explaining the life cycle and some basic knowledge of glow worms to the group.
This is an amazing place and just a wonder of nature .
Thank you for placing the earth cache here .
I will be back as soon as time allows.

Thanks for the earth cache

tftc

Ten years ago, I was in this cave too. And I found it great! Now we made holydays in New Zealand the secund time, and so I must visit this cave the secund time. I am glad, that there is an earth-cache there now.
My answers I sent to the co.

#7602. Wow this was quite an adventure. I suffer a bit from claustrophobia so knew I couldn't do this one by myself. Luckily I had two friends with me who had accompanied me on a joint trip into Fiordland. On our way back from Lake Hauroko we stopped here to have a look at the cave. We were well equipped with wet weather gear, gumboots and headlamps and a spare torch. You need it. This is quite a long cave system (took us about hour and 20 minutes to pass through). Additionally the floor of the cave was muddy in places and very slippery and wet after lots of recent heavy rain. So crawling on hands and knees through the squeeze sections you will get muddy. The squeezes were not of the honking hole variety where you have to suck in your breath to get through but still were lower and tighter than I was expecting. Anyway the remaining sections are open with a high ceiling and easy to walk down. Thank goodness for the reflectors on the walls as there are a number of side passages leading to who knows where.

Found the sections that required some examination for the earthcache. Duly gathered the requested information and have sent the answers to the CO. The pool nearer the lower end of the cave proved to be the most difficult area as the ledge on the left is not flat and the wall hangs out. There is nothing to grip onto and a plunge to the depths seemed possible as your feet struggle for tread on the shelf. But a swim was avoided by all of us. We did have to throw our bags through between each person. Then came the ladders. Not too bad a climb until the last one. It is a narrow slot between the rocks and you have to go sideways through it while climbing up. Anyone with a large stomach might not make it! After that its a little further until daylight. So quite the adventure and relief to be out. But in hindsight well worth the challenge. Certainly not a cave for people afraid of the dark/tight spaces and those not well equipped with right clothing/footwear and good torches/spare batteries. Thanks mop_mop for setting up this awesome earthcache. Favourite is well deserved here.

Ten days off in a row for the price of two leave days, how fabulous! Packed up the whanau for an adventure and headed south. Our original plans were slightly thwarted by water, but we made the trip into an adventure tikitour with a few caches along the way. Signing the logs as Team Polak or TP for brevity. Great fun, thanks to all the CO’s for the entertainment!!
We decided to have some fun in the cave, equipped ourselves with sources of light, and went for it! Very cool place, we spent about 1.5 hours underground, seeing mostly no one but a few glowworms. The best part was to turn all the lights off and listen to the darkness and water for some time! TFTC!!

On our New Zealand tour we visited a lot of earth caches. My wife has seen this new earth caches. I tooks a second and yes I will go! Wow what an adventure. I really like this earth caches! The only way to say thank you is to leave a blue heart! Thanks for showing this place!

Visited here with NZ Bozzy and my nephew for a very interesting walk. Thanks for bringing us here. Some tourists from Europe we meet on the way out were amazed.
What a great place to explore.

Needed to collect monkey island cache for my last cache to find for the 10 oldest cache in the South Island. Now I will able to complete the old school challenge. Kiscardi said she wanted to go into Clifton caves. So combine the two together. I was very unsure of entering the cave but in the end it was fine. We also took my youngest son.

Gathered up the chosens and Ruru for a fun day exploring the cave system. Read all the info and prepared ourselves for the descent into the caves. Lights on. Let’s go. It took a good hour with stops along the way to marvel at the glow worms and the mites and tites before arriving at the cauldron. Managed to skirt around without getting too wet and thankfully after ascending the ladders saw daylight at last. A wonderful experience and a {FTF} as well. Answers sent by Ruru on our behalf. Thanks for bringing us here.

After our wee trip yesterday we were alerted to a new Earthcache, so plans were made with Granville86a and Ruru_nz (and the niece and nephew called to join in the fun) to go on a {FTF} hunt.
Arrived at the cave entrance with lots of people around and a word of warning not to take our bags in. As we had extra torches and such with us we carried on... the obligatory entrance photo taken and then we dived into the pinch, Mr not enjoying it to much. On we went into the depths of the earth (lol) and enjoyed the twists and turns and lows and highs, and the pools. Taking time to explore the side caverns and tunnels, nooks and crannies. Was a lot of fun and we had thought that we would go back through the cave in reverse with the kids if we had time but they had to carry on with their mum to visit their sister nearby. Another obligatory photo taken at the end... Thanks for the earthcache was a great one and we look forward to returning again.

I noticed this new cache on my map while checking out where my closest unfound to home was - and at 24.3km this was it!
Rounded up a few caching buddies for a possible [FTF] (after publication) run today - I know better than to attend subterraneous caches or caches over an hours walk alone.
We arrived at the cave site to find the parking area almost full! Once couple had just come out, having reached the pool and decided not to continue. Another group, with kids and wearing skirts and jandals was entering and a few other tourists just looking.
We were advised by the first couple not to take our (small) bags - assured them that enough of us had done it before that we knew it wouldn't be a problem (besides, we had cameras, paper and pen and other bits and pieces), and yes we knew about the pool, and knew how to go around it. Then we were off, or in. Caught up with the family group 5 mins in at the first squeeze point. They had wisely decided to turn back knowing they weren't equipped, but had given the kids a taste of caving.
So it was in through that first squeeze point, checking for stalactites, stalagmites and glowworms, trying to ignore the increasing amounts of graffiti (really!!??) and generally enjoying the relatively spacious cave system.
Had the map from the brouchure (https://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/southland/clifden-caves-brochure.pdf) so were able to track out progress and it was about halfway that we came across the first biggish speleothems and were soon able to collect the information needed for this earthcache.
The way on from here was more um "exciting" than the way in - a few more tightish spots, that pool (go left) where once again I chose to go deeper on a flatter ledge and was wet to mid thigh, some ladders, water heard flowing up another passage, then eventually our torches were not needed and we were out.
The only part I did not particulary enjoy was the last very narrow ladder up a tightish spot. Not easy going up a ladder sideways!
Thanks for bringing me back here - one of us locals should have put this one here before but I don't think many have published earthcaches - so now on my to-do list.
Our answers with photos are in your inbox.
It's a favourite.

Published

Der erste Cache im Jahr 2019! Clifden Caves - eines der besten Erlebnisse in Neuseeland! FAVO 1+ TFTC