• Lava Caves

Lava Caves

A lava cave is formed when the outer surface of a lava flow hardens, and the liquid lava within drains away, leaving a void. Lava caves do not have the large stalactites formed by slow deposition that are found in limestone caves, but often have smaller features formed by the dripping of molten lava from the cave roof. Within a lava flow, there may be many separate caves, with plugs of lava blocking access between them. Indeed, many of the voids are not open to the surface, and remain unknown beneath Auckland streets and houses. On occasion a chamber may collapse, as happened at the corner of Mt Eden road and Essex St leading to the temporary disappearance of a horse and cart in the early 20th century [citation needed].

The suburbs of Mt Eden and Three Kings contain many lava caves formed from the lava flow from Three Kings to Meola Reef. Around the Landscape Rd and Shackleton Rd area, quite a few lucky homeowners have access to their very own private caves. Building directly over top of caves seems to have been an oddly popular choice around the turn of the century.

The largest lava cave in the Auckland region is found at Wiri. Other notable caves are found at Mangere Mountain, Three Kings, and Rangitoto Island. The exact locations of many of the known caves are not widely publicised, in the interests of preservation. Those genuinely interested can probably find out more by contacting the local speleological society. The Department of Conservation occasionally conducts tours of the Wiri caves.