Hi Jesse, I spent a couple months there in the early 90's. It was awesome, my first international trip. I wenton my own with 2 weeks notice and very little prparation. I caved agood deal of the time. It's really easy to do. You don't even have toknow anyone (but I will look up a few contacts I have for you later). On the North Island there is a town called Waitomo, which has a hostelwhich is run by the local caving club. NSS members could stay there for$3.00 per night as of 1993. In the hut is a flat file with cave maps,and a location map in the lower corner of each map. I found it reallyeasy to meet both cavers and other travelers, and to get into caves. Iended up taking some international travelers from the hostel with me tosome of them. It was a great experience.
But the really big caves areon the South Island. NZSS (New Zealand Speleological Society) isactively organizing expeditions to these areas. If you want to do therally hard core stuff, you'll need to coordinate with them. Also onthe South Island is Harwood's Hole, which is the deepest pit in theSouthern Hemisphere (at a llittle over 500' I think) and can be done asa through trip. It might be easier to arrange a trip there. Lots ofother caves are near there, too, near the town of Nelson. Also there isanother cave-club owned "hut" near there. This one is not a hostel, but NSSmembers can stay there, too. I can give more info later, after work. -Vivian Loftin (512) 659-9486 (mobile), (512) 441-2495 (home-office) -------------- Original message from Jesse Walker <[email protected]>: -------------- Has anyone caved in New Zealand, or know any caving contacts there? I'm going there in a little over a month, and want to do non-commercial caving. Jesse With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. Click here.
