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Located in the outback of Waipū, a natural adventure playground offers visitors a chance to discover an ancient world both above and below the ground, from beautiful limestone forest to the quiet depths of local middle-earth.
Since opening in February last year, Waipū Caves Farm Park has taken many intrepid explorers and the cave-wary on an immersive experience into a world millions of years in the making, a place of stalactites, cave-dwelling creatures and fossilised old bones.
Owned by Ian and Cindy Fox since 2018, the 130 hectare park sits alongside the Waipū Caves Scenic Preserve, which is managed by Whangarei District Council. The privately-owned park offers people a safe and secure way to explore the underground atmosphere with guided tours along concrete paths and handrails.
Experienced caver and member of Northland Search and Rescue, Ian is one of 10 guides who take tourists and school groups on a wander through lush forest and craggy limestone formations before equipping visitors with lights and descending into the Milky Way Glow Worm Cave. Although the caves are large and spacious with plenty of headroom, he says the team is aware of the conflicting emotions some people have about going underground.
“We support each person. Each guide’s got a different sort of strength and personality so if we know someone might be anxious, we’ll put them with the right guide,” he says. “Since we’ve been open, we’ve only had about three people who want to go in but have backed out.”
The guides also give a fascinating narrative about the natural formation of cave systems and lifestyle of glow worms to trace fossils such as belly prints of sea cucumbers and slugs. Numerous caves of different sizes have been found within the parks boundaries which have to meet certain specifications – be a large natural space, deep enough for no light infiltration and fit an average sized human — to be classed as a cave.
“Once upon a time our entire valley would have been a cave system and over time eventually the natural chemical process of weathering and dissolving of the roof and walls broke it all down.”
Passionate about nature, Ian says he has always had an interest in getting underground and as an older teenager would often go off exploring to find caves.
“Just like any activity, you learn progressively, you push yourself a little bit more each time and advance your skills and tolerance to things, which for other people, might seem very scary. Some holes I’ve gone into I have to effectively deflate and relax my entire body so I can collapse through holes,” he says.
Besides the star attraction of the glow worm’s habitat, the off-grid, solar powered sanctuary includes 10 kilometres of walking tracks and bike trails, the Jurassic Crags – three limestones with 75 climbing routes and abseiling – as well as camping and campervan sites.
The focus of the park is on outdoor education and conservation, a natural playground where visitors can immerse themselves in adventure and relaxation, where children and adults can connect within nature.
“I love everything natural. There is no constructed playground, no TV room or wifi and minimal cell phone coverage. There are trees with rope swings, a river to explore and rocks everywhere to climb,” Ian says. “We have over 80 hectares of diverse native bush, two kilometres of rocky bottom stream and lots of fluted limestone rocks and caves. Conservation and management of the natural environment also means there are many rare creatures and birds. Visitors will appreciate this masterpiece of nature.”
