Cave Stream Scenic Reserve is a unique natural feature close to Castle Hill, in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It offers both family-friendly walks and adventurous caving activity through the cave stream.
Cave Stream Loop Walk (Easy Short Walk)
The Cave Stream Loop Walk lets you enjoy the limestone landscape features and scenic views, as the mountain-fed stream runs underground.
The view from Broken River Lookout point. From here you can see the cave stream flowing out of the entrance of the caving site.
Caving at Cave Stream (Can Be Deadly, Weather & Season Dependent)
Caving at Cave Stream requires low river flow and no rain. Rain around the area (even though it’s not raining at the exact area) can quickly flood the cave in 30 minutes, that’s less than the time required to cross the cave. Meltwater can also greatly affect the water current and temperature of the stream in spring. The best time to explore the Cave Stream is during the dry summer. Furthermore, the right fitness and equipment, and the confidence in caving, are all essential to this activity. You need at least two reliable light sources (use a head torch to free your hands for climbing), a helmet, warm clothing (a wetsuit is best), sturdy footwear and high energy snacks. Don’t be fooled by the infographic drawing of the cave and waterfalls’ height, as it had changed by the waterflow. Since the floods in 2022, the cave has become more challenging as the water scoured out the cave, making it deeper. The waterfall climbs are also higher and more difficult compared to before the flood.
My Near-Death Experience
Speaking from my experience of making the dumb decision to enter the cave alone and under-equipped, please only proceed to the caving activity after serious considerations. My decision almost cost my life and nearly contributed to the death-count in this cave. My experience was closely similar to this tragic event that happened at the same location.
So, I went into the cave stream alone with one head torch, went some distance and over a few underground waterfalls towards the other end. After a few waterfalls, I reached one that was too challenging to climb over. The surging flow of the stream kept pushing me down as I attempted to climb the 1-1.5 meters waterfall cliff. Instead of turning back around, I kept trying and managed to dangerously climb the slippery wall at the side and proceeded with my journey.
Unfortunately, the next waterfall’s flow was also too strong to climb over, with no way to use the wall this time. I spent quite some amount of time trying to push through the strong current up the cliff. One slip would mean hitting a rock or getting swept away by the current. Each attempt greatly drained my energy and eventually the jacket that keeps me warm got totally soaked up. The water was so cold that every time it gushed over my body when I tried to climb the waterfall, it triggered my gasp reflex (cold shock response). Then, my head torch started blinking (low battery warning).
Cold, wet, exhausted and shivering, I eventually made the decision to return to where I entered the cave while I still had light. However, that means I had to go through the dangerous wall climbing part of the previous waterfall again.
Right after I made the dangerous wall climb down the waterfall cliff, my head torch died (a fortunate timing in this life/death situation, as I wouldn’t be able to cross that part without the light). Since the battery ran out, I had to feel my way through the cave in complete darkness. At least I knew as long as I moved downstream, I was going the right way, and the remaining waterfalls were lower and easier to get down. In the end, I managed to exit the cave alive with just a small scratch on my leg. Totally happy to see the light again!
What was expected to be a 1-hour caving through this 560 meters passage had taken me more than 2 hours stuck in the cave. My previous group and solo caving experiences had greatly helped me in being calm but I can’t deny this was indeed a stupid decision I had made. Lesson learned.
The path down by the Broken River towards the cave stream entrance. Beware of fractured/loose failing rocks from the unstable limestone cliffs.
Cave Stream entrance, where the water flows out from the opening into Broken River. Always enter here as you can turn back easily if the deepest part of the early section is unsafe. Do not enter via the upper cave exit.
Into the entrance before the deepest part of the water. It typically goes up to chest-deep and here is where you check the water level before proceeding deeper.
The cave stream at shallow sections. There were many thigh-deep sections and the deepest one was up to the chest. It wasn’t a good time to be here in spring as the melting snow and ice water contributed to the strong and very cold current.
The exit of Cave Stream. There is a 3-meter tall waterfall by the cave exit / stream inlet. Ladder rungs are installed on the cave wall to assist cavers to get around the waterfall and to climb out the cave exit.
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