Takaka Hill

The climb from Motueka offers stunning views from one side you look down the riwaka valley towards motueka, then further round Kaiteriteri and the Magnificent Scenery of the  Abel Tasman National Park. 

A well worth stop is at the Eagles Rest Lookout, a short 10 minute walk through lush forests and vegetation brings you to a superb lookout directly below is the Riwaka Resurgence. The valleys of the Riwaka and nearby Takaka River form part of the pass over which the only road between Tasman Bay and Golden Bay runs.

For part of its journey, the river flows underground through limestone caves, returning to the open air at The Riwaka Resurgence. This spot is popular with both holidaymakers and divers, as the water is always crystal clear, and is very cold even in the heat of mid-summer.

Next up the hill is the lookout and entrance to the Ngarua Caves.  These Caves was discovered by bushmen clearing the hillside of scrub, after a bushfire had destroyed the surrounding bush. The early settlers visited the cave by horse coach. The cave was locked up for several years as visitors destroyed and removed stalactites and wrote their names on the formations. Today the ngarua cave has a second entrance, allowing one way guided tours through the cave.

In the cave several remains of the famous birds of New Zealand were found. A complete skeleton of a Moa is on display.

This area of Takaka Hill is also called Marble Mountain. The rock is marble, which is metamorphic limestone, altered by heat and pressure. The chemistry is still the same: CaCO3. But the limestone recrystallised which changed its grain and colour. The rock is about 450 Million years old. The marble is quarried near Ngarua Cave and was used to build several buildings in New Zealand: Parliament Buildings, the Beehive in Wellington and the Nelson Cathedral.

As you drive over the Takaka Hill (known as the Marble Mountain), just before the actual summit is the unsealed road to Canaan Downs (one of the Lord of the Rings sites, The characteristic marble karst is the location for Chetwood Forest).  Some 12 kms along this road and after a 40 minute walk from the carpark is the heart-stopping 183 metre deep Harwood's Hole.

Henry Harwood (1844-1927), with John Horton and Thomas Manson, opened up the Canaan Downs area and discovered Harwoods Hole, though it was not immediately entered. It remained untouched until cavers winched down in 1958. Upon completion of exploration in 1959, Harwood Hole became the deepest explored cave in New Zealand, a record that stood for many years.

Harwood (or Harwood's) Hole is a cave system located in the Marble Mountain.  It is one of several important cave systems in Takaka Hill, between Golden Bay and Tasman Bay. Starting at the surface as a 50 metre round entrance and descending 183 metres, Harwood Hole is New Zealand's deepest vertical shaft. Further in it connects with Starlight Cave. The long rope descent is considered one of the most spectacular parts of the caving experience.  Harwood's Hole has an overall depth of 357 m.

Beyond Harwood's Hole are the walking tracks of the Abel Tasman National Park and, for mountain bike enthusiasts, the exciting Rameka Track down to Takaka.

Back on the main Takaka Road. stop at the Harwood Lookout the zig-zagging highway below leads the eye to the green valley of the Takaka River running north, on a clear day looking straight upto Farewell Spit.  Beyond the valley, rise the dramatic Tasman Mountains, home to the country's most spectacular alpine meadows. Far below is the village of Upper Takaka, the road is easier on this side - it's only 15 minutes down.