Fox River Caves and Ballroom Overhang walk
Punakaiki
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Fox River Caves and Ballroom Overhang walk
Time: 1hr to the caves, Distance: 7km return. Add another 2 hrs return to Ballroom overhang
The Fox River Caves have been an attraction since 1908 when a local entrepreneur/ farmer put in a toll gate and charge a small amount of cash - it's now free for all to enjoy! Make sure you wear solid footwear as it takes about and hour to get to the cave entrance, and hopefully you have also remembered you torch. The last bit of the walk is over super slippery rocks so watch your step.
There are two caves - the upper one is the tourist cave and is decorated with stalactites and stalagmites and takes about 30 minutes to explore, please don't touch the formations and just stick to the obviously marked areas as caves are incredibly unique and fragile. The lower cave is for experienced cavers only, so don't bother unless you are one! You can add an extra two hours to your trip and visit the breathtaking Ballroom Overhang, an overhanging cliff face, and a shelter for hikers tramping the Inland Pack Track. Primo!
Details
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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2.5/5
Access to fox caves were closed and looks like a while.
Anyway the track is really nice
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5.0/5
Lovely walk, good underfoot, i.e pathway and steps where necessary.
Timings were spot on for holiday makers, ambling with a camera.
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5.0/5
FREE!
For an amazing cave I cannot believe this is free. It is a steep one hour hike to the coolest cave we have seen in the South Island.
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4.5/5
Easy and a little muddy track.
Two hours return including the cave. Nice walking through the forest and river to finish with an amazing and big cave entrance. Easy and beautiful cave to explore. 100% recommend.
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5.0/5
I have been in New Zealand for eleven months and love my DOC walks.
This was my favourite, the cave at the end was amazing and the walk itself was challenging, rewarding and diverse.
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5.0/5
One of our favourite walks in New Zealand.
Lots of river crossings (thigh-deep), well marked and the overhang is stunning!
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4.5/5
Highly recommended.
Reminded me of 'japanese waterfalls'. A 10 minute walk to these falls.
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5.0/5
Nice and easy walk through the bush next to a river, walk duration is about 1 to 1.5 hours (one way).
Take a torch with you and wear good footwear and be prepared to get wet feet. At the end of the track you can walk as deep as you want into one of the two stalactite caves (the left one). Really amazing!!
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3.0/5
Rated as a medium track, found difficult and dangerous, two large river crossings and lots of very slippery ricks on a steep incline, needs maintenance.
Caves incredible but dangerous.
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2.5/5
Access to fox caves were closed and looks like a while.
Anyway the track is really nice
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5.0/5
Lovely walk, good underfoot, i.e pathway and steps where necessary.
Timings were spot on for holiday makers, ambling with a camera.
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4.5/5
Easy and a little muddy track.
Two hours return including the cave. Nice walking through the forest and river to finish with an amazing and big cave entrance. Easy and beautiful cave to explore. 100% recommend.
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5.0/5
I have been in New Zealand for eleven months and love my DOC walks.
This was my favourite, the cave at the end was amazing and the walk itself was challenging, rewarding and diverse.
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5.0/5
FREE!
For an amazing cave I cannot believe this is free. It is a steep one hour hike to the coolest cave we have seen in the South Island.
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5.0/5
One of our favourite walks in New Zealand.
Lots of river crossings (thigh-deep), well marked and the overhang is stunning!
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4.5/5
Highly recommended.
Reminded me of 'japanese waterfalls'. A 10 minute walk to these falls.
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5.0/5
Nice and easy walk through the bush next to a river, walk duration is about 1 to 1.5 hours (one way).
Take a torch with you and wear good footwear and be prepared to get wet feet. At the end of the track you can walk as deep as you want into one of the two stalactite caves (the left one). Really amazing!!
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5.0/5
Hard to get there, but the cave is amazing and there were no other people.
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4.0/5
Rewarding at the end.
A big cave out of nowhere in which you can go into for a few metres. However, look out for the slippery rocks.
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5.0/5
The most beautiful walk so far, a lot of river crossings that make the walk exciting.
You will get wet!! Free! There is even a toilet in the middle of nowhere!!
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4.5/5
Nice cave, some beautiful formations, very steep and slippery approach, bring headlights, gets wet further in.
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4.5/5
Awesome track and caves were great!
But hard track and two big river crossings.
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3.0/5
Rated as a medium track, found difficult and dangerous, two large river crossings and lots of very slippery ricks on a steep incline, needs maintenance.
Caves incredible but dangerous.
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4.5/5
Excellent adventure!
It should be explained in the official information book, that you have to cross the river twice in knee deep water. You need to be fit and in good shape. It is a hard track not only moderate.
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5.0/5
Great walk through the bush.
In the Rankers app for mobile phones it is called a "moderate walk" but with the river crossing and the steep and slippery sections on the rocks it should be called a "hard walk" We enjoyed it very much.
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3.0/5
The start of this walk was lovely but the second river crossing was too much for us - the first one ended in wet undies so we turned back.
It hadn't rained that much so perhaps the river has changed a little...
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5.0/5
Amazing track to get there, 15-20m of overhanging rock, completely dry.
Nice swim spots nearby, many river crossings though!
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4.5/5
Amazing walk with amazing caves.
You need sturdy boots as the walk is slippery and littered with rocks. Take a good torch or two for the caves. You have to cross the river four times in total, so be prepared to get your feet worth. Some of the best caves in New Zealand!!!
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5.0/5
Great walk, 3 times to cross the river (knee deep), slippery way to walk up - hiking slides recommended.
Wonderful cave (200m to go in) for free.
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4.5/5
The walk to Fox cave was excellent!
We didn't go on to the Ballroom. You do need to ford the river twice to get to the cave, so bring water sandals for the knee-deep river.
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4.0/5
Easy beach walk through rain forest ending in spectacular lime stone caves with great lime stone formations.
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5.0/5
Different landscape, interesting plants and amazing cave you can experience by your own.
