Honeycomb Jan 30

Honeycomb Cave is one of the longest caves in New Zealand with about 14km of mapped passage. Because of the internationally significant collections of sub-fossils that have accumulated below some of the pit entrances, it is one of the most important caves in the country in terms of conservation and access is relegated by a permit system. Formations are also abundant. It is a maze of several levels of interconnected passages that document a long history of underground streams. The passages are enormous and there are well over 30 entrances to the system- Honeycomb is an apt name for the cave. The comparisons to Megamania Cave are obvious.

The other people on my permit were unable to go at the last minute. Since I did not know when another opportunity would come up, I decided to go alone and have a cruisy photo and conservation trip rather than the longer, more extensive trip I would have had. I walked along the tour trail, and along side passages to some of the other entrances, generally getting a feel for the cave and its geology. The Honeyflow Stream was particularly interesting- the stream has cut down to the granite basement underneath the limestone so no further cave development can occur other than collapse.



I had a pretty miraculous incident of note. I set my camera and pack down for just a moment. Their position was unstable and I heard a terrifying crash as my camera and pack tumbled 25m down a slope towards the stream. My pack splashed down in the shallow stream. I removed it instantly, expecting the worst. Miraculously, almost everything was in a dry bag and the only real casualty was some postcards. My camera had also rolled and bounced 25m in its case to land less than a meter above the stream. To my utter disbelief, the camera was completely fine other than a slightly muddy case. I sat for a moment to contemplate my luck and the disaster that could have unfolded.


Moa



The trip was cut short by an unpleasant misunderstanding, but I hope to get back again for a more thorough trip in this amazing cave.