Te Ana-au Caves
Encyclopedia
The Te Ana-au caves are a culturally and ecologically important system of limestone caves on the western shore of Lake Te Anau
, in the southwest of New Zealand
. It was discovered in 1948 by Lawson Burrows, who found the upper entry after three years of searching, following clues in old Māori legend
s. It later became a major tourist attraction for the area, as the part of the caverns close to the lake shore is home to glowworm
s. The unofficial name used by the national caving
association is Aurora. The caves are geologically young (estimated 12,000 years) and hence there is only one tiny stalagmite.
Since the caves lie in the Murchison Mountains (where the endangered takahe
were rediscovered), and are themselves very fragile, access is restricted. Commercial guided tours by punt
through the water-filled caverns run daily, operated by Real Journeys
.
Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. Its name was originally Te Ana-au, Maori for 'The cave of swirling water'. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island...
, in the southwest of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It was discovered in 1948 by Lawson Burrows, who found the upper entry after three years of searching, following clues in old Māori legend
Maori mythology
Māori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
s. It later became a major tourist attraction for the area, as the part of the caverns close to the lake shore is home to glowworm
Glowworm
Glowworm, or glow worm, is the common name for various groups of insect larvae and adult larviform females that glow through bioluminescence. They may sometimes resemble worms, but all are insects .-Classification:Major families are:* Lampyridae , found around the world...
s. The unofficial name used by the national caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
association is Aurora. The caves are geologically young (estimated 12,000 years) and hence there is only one tiny stalagmite.
Since the caves lie in the Murchison Mountains (where the endangered takahe
Takahe
The Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898...
were rediscovered), and are themselves very fragile, access is restricted. Commercial guided tours by punt
Punt (boat)
A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole...
through the water-filled caverns run daily, operated by Real Journeys
Real Journeys
Real Journeys is a major tourism company based in Fiordland, New Zealand. It is New Zealand's largest marine tourism operator, and operates a number of ships, as well as a tourism flight airline.- History :...
.