Clifden Caves
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Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC SouthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Southland ▷ Tuatapere |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Scenic Attractions
Caving
Nearby
Reviews
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4.0/5
An underground cave system that can be followed from one end to the other.
Free, just take some torches, decent boots and a bit of bravery. It takes over an hour to complete so recommend not going alone and letting others know your plans before you go to the cave site as there is little or no phone reception in the surrounding area.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(49,178,253)" /><path d="m 150 752 Q 118 182 -452 150 Q 118 118 150 -452 Q 182 118 752 150 Q 182 182 150 752 z" fill="rgb(33,150,223)" /><path d="m 150 446 Q 79 221 -146 150 Q 79 79 150 -146 Q 221 79 446 150 Q 221 221 150 446 z" fill="rgb(222,105,32)" /><path d="m 150 307 Q 227 73 -7 150 Q 227 227 150 -7 Q 73 227 307 150 Q 73 73 150 307 z" fill="rgb(206,77,2)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Good rainy day activity.
The walk isn't too hard if you're the adventurous type but DO bring a head torch and DON'T rely on your cell phone light. Many places require two hands to stabilize and after an hour long walk, your battery will likely die. Be smart and have fun! Lovely glow worm cave at the very end :)
AC![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(130,197,18)" /><path d="m 150 616 Q 162 138 -316 150 Q 162 162 150 -316 Q 138 162 616 150 Q 138 138 150 616 z" fill="rgb(10,23,18)" /><path d="m 150 456 Q 139 161 -156 150 Q 139 139 150 -156 Q 161 139 456 150 Q 161 161 150 456 z" fill="rgb(245,232,237)" /><path d="m 150 135 Q 55 245 165 150 Q 55 55 150 165 Q 245 55 135 150 Q 245 245 150 135 z" fill="rgb(125,58,237)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Did the 1.5 hour walk through the Clifden Caves.
Bring a torch as it is pitch dark, but lit up it is beautiful. Quite adventurous. Saw glowworms!
SD![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(73,216,161)" /><path d="m 150 664 Q 181 119 -364 150 Q 181 181 150 -364 Q 119 181 664 150 Q 119 119 150 664 z" fill="rgb(218,22,248)" /><path d="m 150 413 Q 86 214 -113 150 Q 86 86 150 -113 Q 214 86 413 150 Q 214 214 150 413 z" fill="rgb(37,233,7)" /><path d="m 150 141 Q 106 194 159 150 Q 106 106 150 159 Q 194 106 141 150 Q 194 194 150 141 z" fill="rgb(182,39,94)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Unexpectedly very adventurous and exciting.
You enter the cave on your own (bring torches!) and crawl through narrow passages and jump over pools of water. When you turn off your torch, the glowworms are amazing!
ED![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(218,59,218)" /><path d="m 150 744 Q 59 241 -444 150 Q 59 59 150 -444 Q 241 59 744 150 Q 241 241 150 744 z" fill="rgb(101,251,163)" /><path d="m 150 543 Q 68 232 -243 150 Q 68 68 150 -243 Q 232 68 543 150 Q 232 232 150 543 z" fill="rgb(154,4,92)" /><path d="m 150 184 Q 269 31 116 150 Q 269 269 150 116 Q 31 269 184 150 Q 31 31 150 184 z" fill="rgb(37,196,37)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
We liked it alot, flashlight and decent clothes/shoes are required.
Takes about an hour.
GZ![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(115,90,88)" /><path d="m 150 560 Q 140 160 -260 150 Q 140 140 150 -260 Q 160 140 560 150 Q 160 160 150 560 z" fill="rgb(181,72,222)" /><path d="m 150 530 Q 45 255 -230 150 Q 45 45 150 -230 Q 255 45 530 150 Q 255 255 150 530 z" fill="rgb(74,183,33)" /><path d="m 150 323 Q 144 156 -23 150 Q 144 144 150 -23 Q 156 144 323 150 Q 156 156 150 323 z" fill="rgb(140,165,167)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Very adventurous track.
Headlamp and good boots are recommended. Do not go in there if you have problems with narrow spaces. Otherwise try it! It is a little challenging but worth it! Includes glowworms if you dare to turn the headlamp off every now and then.
UK![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(203,101,215)" /><path d="m 150 565 Q 245 55 -265 150 Q 245 245 150 -265 Q 55 245 565 150 Q 55 55 150 565 z" fill="rgb(59,65,72)" /><path d="m 150 316 Q 97 203 -16 150 Q 97 97 150 -16 Q 203 97 316 150 Q 203 203 150 316 z" fill="rgb(196,190,183)" /><path d="m 150 236 Q 167 133 64 150 Q 167 167 150 64 Q 133 167 236 150 Q 133 133 150 236 z" fill="rgb(52,154,40)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Super fun!
Very understated signs, we weren't even sure we were in the right place until, well, we were there. We were the only people there. Some crossings were difficult, especially the large pool of water midway through! You don't really need a helmet, but do watch your heads. Definitely bring extra light sources though! A few glow-worms, which were lovely. The most we saw were in the last cavern at the very end.
R![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(114,146,163)" /><path d="m 150 605 Q 279 21 -305 150 Q 279 279 150 -305 Q 21 279 605 150 Q 21 21 150 605 z" fill="rgb(224,118,49)" /><path d="m 150 484 Q 286 14 -184 150 Q 286 286 150 -184 Q 14 286 484 150 Q 14 14 150 484 z" fill="rgb(31,137,206)" /><path d="m 150 312 Q 88 212 -12 150 Q 88 88 150 -12 Q 212 88 312 150 Q 212 212 150 312 z" fill="rgb(141,109,92)" /></svg>)
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2.0/5
Very small and wet cave but we visited it at the end of winter so maybe that is why.
The signpost in front of the cave is named Livestone caves.
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(153,241,164)" /><path d="m 150 667 Q 102 198 -367 150 Q 102 102 150 -367 Q 198 102 667 150 Q 198 198 150 667 z" fill="rgb(253,48,180)" /><path d="m 150 486 Q 258 42 -186 150 Q 258 258 150 -186 Q 42 258 486 150 Q 42 42 150 486 z" fill="rgb(2,207,75)" /><path d="m 150 131 Q 233 67 169 150 Q 233 233 150 169 Q 67 233 131 150 Q 67 67 150 131 z" fill="rgb(102,14,91)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(65,24,131)" /><path d="m 150 641 Q 278 22 -341 150 Q 278 278 150 -341 Q 22 278 641 150 Q 22 22 150 641 z" fill="rgb(105,192,243)" /><path d="m 150 526 Q 244 56 -226 150 Q 244 244 150 -226 Q 56 244 526 150 Q 56 56 150 526 z" fill="rgb(150,63,12)" /><path d="m 150 155 Q 181 119 145 150 Q 181 181 150 145 Q 119 181 155 150 Q 119 119 150 155 z" fill="rgb(190,231,124)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(19,97,252)" /><path d="m 150 628 Q 59 241 -328 150 Q 59 59 150 -328 Q 241 59 628 150 Q 241 241 150 628 z" fill="rgb(85,56,168)" /><path d="m 150 539 Q 266 34 -239 150 Q 266 266 150 -239 Q 34 266 539 150 Q 34 34 150 539 z" fill="rgb(170,199,87)" /><path d="m 150 114 Q 297 3 186 150 Q 297 297 150 186 Q 3 297 114 150 Q 3 3 150 114 z" fill="rgb(236,158,3)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(73,102,254)" /><path d="m 150 701 Q 199 101 -401 150 Q 199 199 150 -401 Q 101 199 701 150 Q 101 101 150 701 z" fill="rgb(93,220,201)" /><path d="m 150 335 Q 283 17 -35 150 Q 283 283 150 -35 Q 17 283 335 150 Q 17 17 150 335 z" fill="rgb(162,35,54)" /><path d="m 150 232 Q 91 209 68 150 Q 91 91 150 68 Q 209 91 232 150 Q 209 209 150 232 z" fill="rgb(182,153,1)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
An underground cave system that can be followed from one end to the other.
Free, just take some torches, decent boots and a bit of bravery. It takes over an hour to complete so recommend not going alone and letting others know your plans before you go to the cave site as there is little or no phone reception in the surrounding area.
M -
4.5/5
We liked it alot, flashlight and decent clothes/shoes are required.
Takes about an hour.
GZ -
4.0/5
Very adventurous track.
Headlamp and good boots are recommended. Do not go in there if you have problems with narrow spaces. Otherwise try it! It is a little challenging but worth it! Includes glowworms if you dare to turn the headlamp off every now and then.
UK -
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4.0/5
Did the 1.5 hour walk through the Clifden Caves.
Bring a torch as it is pitch dark, but lit up it is beautiful. Quite adventurous. Saw glowworms!
SD -
4.5/5
Unexpectedly very adventurous and exciting.
You enter the cave on your own (bring torches!) and crawl through narrow passages and jump over pools of water. When you turn off your torch, the glowworms are amazing!
ED -
4.5/5
Good rainy day activity.
The walk isn't too hard if you're the adventurous type but DO bring a head torch and DON'T rely on your cell phone light. Many places require two hands to stabilize and after an hour long walk, your battery will likely die. Be smart and have fun! Lovely glow worm cave at the very end :)
AC -
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5.0/5
Super fun!
Very understated signs, we weren't even sure we were in the right place until, well, we were there. We were the only people there. Some crossings were difficult, especially the large pool of water midway through! You don't really need a helmet, but do watch your heads. Definitely bring extra light sources though! A few glow-worms, which were lovely. The most we saw were in the last cavern at the very end.
R -
5.0/5
Long cave with a pool that you have to cross.
You need a flashlight and a helmet would be good.
MR![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(32,251,62)" /><path d="m 150 642 Q 249 51 -342 150 Q 249 249 150 -342 Q 51 249 642 150 Q 51 51 150 642 z" fill="rgb(88,40,182)" /><path d="m 150 491 Q 260 40 -191 150 Q 260 260 150 -191 Q 40 260 491 150 Q 40 40 150 491 z" fill="rgb(167,215,73)" /><path d="m 150 188 Q 106 194 112 150 Q 106 106 150 112 Q 194 106 188 150 Q 194 194 150 188 z" fill="rgb(223,4,193)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
A totally new experience, unguided cave exploration.
Beautiful limestone and glowworms.
GC![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(52,203,214)" /><path d="m 150 701 Q 251 49 -401 150 Q 251 251 150 -401 Q 49 251 701 150 Q 49 49 150 701 z" fill="rgb(138,132,14)" /><path d="m 150 464 Q 201 99 -164 150 Q 201 201 150 -164 Q 99 201 464 150 Q 99 99 150 464 z" fill="rgb(117,123,241)" /><path d="m 150 320 Q 68 232 -20 150 Q 68 68 150 -20 Q 232 68 320 150 Q 232 232 150 320 z" fill="rgb(203,52,41)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Really exiting!
You should be fit and not claustrophobic. Longer then we thought, maybe 45-60 minutes for whole cave.
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5.0/5
This 'walk' takes about 45 minutes and is perfect for everyone with a headlamp who loves a little adventure including climbing and wading through water.
H![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(170,242,16)" /><path d="m 150 509 Q 129 171 -209 150 Q 129 129 150 -209 Q 171 129 509 150 Q 171 171 150 509 z" fill="rgb(105,234,27)" /><path d="m 150 378 Q 183 117 -78 150 Q 183 183 150 -78 Q 117 183 378 150 Q 117 117 150 378 z" fill="rgb(150,21,228)" /><path d="m 150 129 Q 261 39 171 150 Q 261 261 150 171 Q 39 261 129 150 Q 39 39 150 129 z" fill="rgb(85,13,239)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
60 minute climb through a narrow limestone cave (don't forget your light!).
Nice experience, different from the usual New Zealand walk.
F![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(55,202,150)" /><path d="m 150 704 Q 177 123 -404 150 Q 177 177 150 -404 Q 123 177 704 150 Q 123 123 150 704 z" fill="rgb(106,179,23)" /><path d="m 150 368 Q 215 85 -68 150 Q 215 215 150 -68 Q 85 215 368 150 Q 85 85 150 368 z" fill="rgb(149,76,232)" /><path d="m 150 228 Q 251 49 72 150 Q 251 251 150 72 Q 49 251 228 150 Q 49 49 150 228 z" fill="rgb(200,53,105)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Really beautiful caves, you can go on your own and it is free.
Many glowworms. Really beautiful. Maybe 300m of caves, takes two hours to go through.
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2.0/5
Very small and wet cave but we visited it at the end of winter so maybe that is why.
The signpost in front of the cave is named Livestone caves.
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3.0/5
Small cave, not as exciting than the Abbey Caves, but still good.
At 3/4 of the way there was a swimming pool (very, very cold), which was hard to cross!
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(57,152,84)" /><path d="m 150 670 Q 91 209 -370 150 Q 91 91 150 -370 Q 209 91 670 150 Q 209 209 150 670 z" fill="rgb(154,191,72)" /><path d="m 150 453 Q 149 151 -153 150 Q 149 149 150 -153 Q 151 149 453 150 Q 151 151 150 453 z" fill="rgb(101,64,183)" /><path d="m 150 124 Q 123 177 176 150 Q 123 123 150 176 Q 177 123 124 150 Q 177 177 150 124 z" fill="rgb(198,103,171)" /></svg>)
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