2009 Te Anau NZSS Expedition - Sat 24 Jan to Sun 8 Feb
All around Te Anau lies some of New Zealand's finest karst - yet there has never been an NZSS expedition to the area. But the time has come - so mark your diaries with the period Sat 24 January to Sun 8 February 2009. Come for as long or as little as you like.
WCG will be attending the first week.
There will be caves for everyone from easy going local limestone caves, to boat-accessed fiord cave exploration, to fly-in Fiordland alpine top exploration. Likely to be casually based in a central Te Anau campground (self-catered while there), with more organised day or multiday trips branching out from there. People can easily mix caving with the many other activities and sights accessible from Te Anau.
More info in the TTs later in the year but please put the date aside now. Contact Dave Smith (HTG, , 07 8788534) or Oz Patterson (NSG, , 03 5477395) with any queries in the meantime.
Commercial
Aurora Caves
The following restrictions should apply regarding access for non-guided recreation visits to the Aurora Caves:
- Only two visitor groups per month should be permitted;
- In addition to (i) above, a further two extra visitor groups per annum may be permitted for public awareness and education purposes into the Caves;
- Total visitor group size should not exceed twelve persons inclusive of group leaders (i.e. a maximum visitor group size of ten persons exclusive of group leaders);
- All visitor groups should have a minimum of one member of the New Zealand Speleological Society included within the total visitor group size. This person will have to demonstrate knowledge of conservation ethics associated with caving and provide approved references;
- Access to the Aurora Caves should only be permitted for day visits (no overnight opportunities); and
- Access to these caves may be declined should monitoring determine an unacceptable level of impact on the natural values of the caves (refer also Implementation 4 of this section). (refer also to section 5.14)
d) Concession access to the Aurora Caves should be subject to following conditions:
- Due to sensitive cave environments only one concession should be granted for access to the Aurora Caves;
- No facilities should be permitted to be developed in the caves;
- Total party group size should not exceed twelve persons inclusive of guides (i.e. a maximum concession group size of ten persons exclusive of guides);
- All parties should have a minimum of one member of the New Zealand Speleological Society included within the total party size. This person will have to demonstrate knowledge of conservation ethics associated with caving and provide approved references;
- Concession access to the Aurora Caves should be limited to one visit per month;
- Concession access should only be permitted for day visits (no overnight opportunities); and
- Access to these caves may be declined should monitoring determine an unacceptable level of impact on the natural values of the caves (refer also Implementation 4 of this section). (refer also to section 5.14)
