Oparara Basin Arches
The Oparara Basin Arches , several limestone tunnels and arches in the Buller District in the West Coast region on the South Island of New Zealand . The Oparara River flows through them. The best known are the Oparara Arch and the smaller Moria Gate Arch .
The arches can be reached via a forest road about 12 km long from the main road about 9 km north of Karamea . At a bridge over the Opara River there is a parking lot with a shelter and toilets. From here the arches can be reached on foot. There are also mountain bike tracks and a mountain lake in the area.
Oparara Arch
The Oparara Arch is the largest natural rock arch in the Earth's southern hemisphere. The dimensions published by the Department of Conservation are 219 meters in length, up to 79 meters in width and 43 meters in height.
The southern entrance of the Oparara can be reached in a half-hour hike up the Oparara River. The path goes about a third of the depth into the arch and ends with a few steps and a viewing platform. After rains, a small waterfall is created in the middle of the rock arch. Downstream there is another 10 meter long rock arch in front of the main arch with a distance of about 10 meters from the main arch. In the area around the lookout point, the beginning of the formation of stalactites and stalagmites can be observed.
Moria Gate Arch
The Moria Gate Arch is smaller and can be accessed via a different path from the parking lot. The 1.5-hour circular walk leads to Moria Gate Arch and Moria Gate Mirror Tarn , both names and other place names in the area are inspired by the book Lord of the Rings .
The rock arch can be reached in a half-hour walk. Access to the cave is secured with a chain and railings. The circular route continues over the rock arch and leads to a lookout point at the upper entrance to the arch. Part of the path between the fork in the cave and the lookout point is paved with paving stones that depict moas' footprints .
The Moria Gate Arch is 19 meters high and 43 meters wide, its ceiling is covered with stalactites and roots.
Honeycomb Hill Arch
The Honeycomb Hill Arch is only accessible by kayak and is located in the part of the Kahurangi National Park that is only accessible with a permit . The Teuil, through which the river flows, continues in the 14 km long cave system of the Honeycomb Hill Caves . Several significant sites of subfossils of moa bones are located here.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Oparara Basin walking tracks on the Department of Conservation website. Accessed March 16, 2013
- ↑ Information on a DOC information board at the parking lot near the arch.
Coordinates: 41 ° 9 ′ 3.1 ″ S , 172 ° 11 ′ 27.2 ″ E