Cathedral Caves

The Cathedral Caves are two connected limestone sea caves located on Waipati Beach, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Papatowai, on the Catlins Coast in the southeast corner of New Zealand's South Island.[1] The two main cave systems join together within the cliff and one has a 30 metres (98 ft) high ceiling.[2] Often blue penguins and fur seals will emerge from the gloom at the far end of the cave.

Cathedral Caves
Cave
Inside the Cathedral Cave
Cathedral Caves
Coordinates: 46°36′30.40″S 169°22′52.56″E
Age	160 mya
Geology	Sandstone
Operator	Kāi Tahu
Website	https://www.cathedralcaves.co.nz/

The 199m-long cave is formed in Jurassic sandstone (about 160 million years old) of the Murihiku Terrane, though the cave itself is much younger, ten to hundreds of thousands of years old. They were named by Thomas Hocken who noted how the caves reverberated noise[3] and their resemblance to European cathedrals.[4] The caves are only accessible for an hour either side of low tide. They are managed by Kāi Tahu descendants.[5]