The Cox Family New Zealand Adventures: Cave Stream Hike- Arthur's Pass National Park

March 3, 2017

We had been waiting for a day that was warm enough to do the Cave Stream hike. We had heard about this hike and Brady had been fishing along this river on a previous trip.Many told us that Ava wouldn't be able to do it since she's only 7, but to us, Alyssa and Ava have the same abilities (regardless of age) so if Alyssa can do it so can Ava. They are essentially twins to us (we don't say that to them, it makes Alyssa mad because she's older)

It was less sunny than we expected but we went for it anyways. We had 5 headlamps (they call them torches) and our swimsuits. Most people (we learned after our hike) wear a wet suit or long johns or stretch pants and wool hats while hiking this. We had just our suits and swim shorts on. And, we didn't know what the end was like (steep slippery ladder) or we may have been too afraid to go in with all the girls. We were glad that we didn't know those things and just went in with our headlamps and a sense of adventure. It is a hike we will never forget! So unique and amazing fun, despite the ice cold water and raging water. I'm so glad that all the girls went in with us. I believe that even at their young age, Alyssa and Ava will always remember it.

Here's some info about the cave:

The reserve covers 16 hectares, the main feature being the cave itself, but the area is also the site of some spectacular limestone cliffs, gorges and outcrops of limestone boulders.

The cave or tunnel, is formed by the Cave stream, as it flows through serpentine underground passage for 594 metres (it is only 362 metres between entrances on the surface). The cave can be traversed with care by inexperienced cavers.

The trail down to the cave entrance (which is actually the exit as the water is flowing out of it). What we did know was that we should hike it backwards... from the exit to the entrance.

Heading in for some serious adventure!!

As you can see in the above graphic, right as we got in it was deeper than we expected. You can see on Brady's backpack below were the water was. It was quite shocking to get in that deep as our first experience in the frigid water. You can also see on Alyssa's shirt that the water went up to her armpits. The water was so cold when we got in it stung your skin!!

The pictures are a little blurry in the dark, but I was so glad I had my waterproof camera to capture this memory.

Some places were deep and some places were shallow. Some places we were even climbing up against a waterfall flowing down.

Here's a small waterfall flowing down against us as we walked further in.

The picture below shows us climbing up the ladder. The ladder was metal rungs stuck inside the rock wall. We were climbing up right above a waterfall. It was very loud. Glad that I was the rear and that by the time I got on the ladder everyone had almost got all the way up. I'm glad Brady had Ava because I would have been very nervous with her next to me... I was nervous for myself.

You can't tell how far it is down if Alyssa would have slipped. I was SCARED!! And the cold, wet, chain to hold onto... AHHH!!!

The picture below shows the ladder in the background and the chain on the upper right hand side and the steep incline we were perched on. I'm glad I was at the back and didn't have to see anyone climb up that from this perspective.