Waiomio - Kawiti Caves

Tours are available of three limestone glow worm caves; Waiomio Cave, Roku's Cave and Tahu's Cave. The family running tours of the cave are descendents of Chief Kawiti, a hero who fought alongside Hone Heke at Ruapekapeka. The meeting house and marae complex at the caves are his memorial

There are three caves – Waiomio Cave, Roku’s Cave and Tahu’s Cave. Each contains fine examples of stalactites and stalagmites and many glow-worms. The area was visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, although he did not visit the caves themselves. He described the scene above ground as being of “some singular masses of limestone, resembling ruined castles.” Your guide will tell you the fascinating history of the caves during your 40-minutes underground.

"The Kawiti caves (formerly Waiomio Caves) were discovered in the early 17th century by Roku. Hineamaru, famous cheiftainess of the Ngati hine Tribe arrived at Waiomio with her aged father, Torongare and her brothers.

Exploring the valley, she discovered trodden Tawa berries which made her curious. No member of her party had come this way. Later she smelt smoke which seemed to come from a nearby hill. She went forward and found that the smoke was coming from a cave. 20 metres in from the entrance she came upon a woman sitting by a fire. Hineamaru learned that she was Roku, runaway wife of Haumoewarangi of the Tribe Ngatitu.

Today, the Kawiti Caves are owned and operated by the Kawiti Family, direct descendants of the chieftaness Hineamaru of the Ngati Hine Tribe."

RAINBOW FALLS, KERIKERI RIVER WALK, AND KAWITI GLOW WORM CAVES TOUR

Image Credit: Sir George Grey Speical Collections, Auckland Libraries, Showing a Group outside Kawiti's meeting house in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand about 1870, Mundy, Daniel Lewis.