Harwoods Hole Track

About

Dropping 183 meters, Harwoods Hole is the deepest vertical shaft in New Zealand and the entrance to one of the country’s most impressive cave systems. While exploring the cave itself is an adventure reserved for advanced spelunkers, paying a visit to this natural wonder is easily manageable by almost anyone. A 2.2 km walk works its way through a fantastical, moss-covered beech forest leads to a boulder-strewn amphitheatre that you must climb over (so be sure to wear good shoes) to reach the lookout point. Since you can’t actually see down the shaft from up close, and the lack of any fences at the opening, you should admire this beautiful landscape from a distance and not attempt to get close to the edge.