28.12.2017: Cave Stream - Our biggest adventure in New Zealand

Today we're heading back to Arthur's Pass. Eric is especially excited about the first stop. Not only does the entrance sign of Springfield tempt dedicated Simpson fans to stop, there's even an oversized pink donut. We also have some donuts with us, but they're for eating, so we have a late morning snack. However, the small town doesn't seem to have any interest in hustle and bustle, otherwise you could get much more out of it, for example with a Simpson's house and the characters in the front yard.

Next, we explore the bizarre limestone formations at the Castle Hill Scenic Reserve. You might think it's another 'Lord of the Rings' film location, but no, this time it's 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. We spend about an hour climbing around the big and small boulders scattered around the area, which strongly resemble the Elephant Rocks in Duntroon. Many children also view the hill, which is of great spiritual significance to the Maori, as an adventure playground and have fun to their heart's content.

Let's get to our biggest adventure in New Zealand - the Cave Stream. This is a 600 m deep cave that can be walked through upstream in the summer when the stream is low. You should plan about an hour for this. We have struggled for a long time whether we want to and can wade in the cold water for so long, but the enthusiastic report of the German couple from our hostel in Akaroa finally convinced us - Let's do it!

Fortunately, it's quite warm today, so we don't arrive at the entrance frozen. The deepest point awaits you right from the start. For most people, the water is waist-deep, for me it goes up over the bikini top and I'm already tiptoeing. Once you have passed this point, the water is knee-deep most of the time and surprisingly quite pleasant. The stream meanders in complete darkness through the depths of the rock. At narrow passages, the water power is concentrated and you have quite a struggle, especially when climbing the small waterfalls. Thankfully, Eric pushes me from behind and helps me climb the waterfall steps time and time again.

At some point, it does get a little chilly and you lose all sense of time and distance covered. We also didn't look at the clock when we entered. The loose ground requires extreme caution; we slide more than once, but fortunately, we always manage to catch ourselves in time. Falling down is not an option, especially since I'm carrying the delicate camera with me.

At the very end, there is a 3 m high waterfall that you have to bypass using a ladder. Afterwards, you crawl on your knees towards the exit. An anchored iron chain provides additional safety.

Back in the daylight, we high-five each other - thrilled to have decided to go through the Cave Stream. I'm glad I had Eric with me. Who knows if I would have actually dared to go through the cave alone, especially since some spots would have been a bit tricky. For all New Zealand travelers who are still considering - go for it! It's a super cool experience that you will remember for a long time.