Notes

312 pages : colour illustrations, maps. Contents: New Zealand cave geology -- Caving pioneers : Harwood Hole -- Waitomo's wild side : Mangawhitikau system --Tannin and gold : Fox River and Armageddon Caves -- A good place for a bad time : Greenlink System -- Journey through a mountain : Nettlebed-Stormy Pot System -- New cavelands : Ellis Basin System -- Big, bad, beautiful : Bulmer Cavern -- Into the jungle : megamania -- Extreme ways : Ironstone Cave -- Tableland wonderland : Te Mana Nui -- Caving's bright future. Summary: New Zealanders as a collective share a deep connection with the outdoors. Our rivers, forests, and mountains are part of our national identity but our caves are less well-known and often misunderstood. Though nearly every corner of the country has been explored and mapped, exploration beneath our land is still in its infancy. This book takes readers on a journey into New Zealand's longest and deepest caves, through one of the world's most dangerous cave dives, and prospecting for a totally new kind of cave on a South Island glacier. In Caves: Exploring New Zealand's Subterranean Wilderness, Marcus and Neil share their passion for caving with well-researched narrative and dramatic photos - it's as close as you'll get to real caving without getting your socks wet. Caves are places of mystery where few people dare to venture. They are also a valuable resource both for science and recreation and we hope that by sharing our knowledge, and experience in New Zealand's caves we may inspire others to enjoy and protect them. This book is the first of its kind for New Zealand and no effort has been spared in its making. It is for both cavers and non-cavers alike, to inspire, and showcase the true beauty of caves and the mettle of those who explore them