Fyfe river, Mt Owen, Kahurangi National Park

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The Fyfe river drains the western slopes of the Mt Owen massif - an 1800m high lump of marble riddled with caves and carved by ice-age glaciers. Among the many caves is the 800m deep Bulmer cave with its 45km+ of passage. Like Mt Owen, the Fyfe is also an area of active cave exploration. Although no major entrances have been found*, many systems are known to drain into the Fyfe valley, including the largest cavern in New Zealand. The water level in the Fyfe varies suspiciously along its course... Whether or not you're interested in caves, this is one of the most scenic places to go tramping.

* Or at least, have not been reported.



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Copyright (c) 1996 Jonathan Carr