MAITAI CAVE

Coppermine Trail #1 - Maitai Cave

An early Autumn afternoon that felt more like Spring.

The track starts over the bridge that you find just before the Maitai Dam carpark.

The signs indicate a fair estimate of an hour and a half each way, especially if you pause to take photographs and to take a moment to sit down and eat. You follow a level path through light bush for two thirds of the trail to the cave and after that cross a tributary stream and into wetter forested territory and a very moderate climb up to the cave. Parts of the path seem to have been washed out, and a sign around the last kilometer warns it is unsuitable for small children. The actual cave is rather shallow and requires a flash light but no other specialty equipment unless you want to get to the cave floor, though you could do that unaided. The area loses the sun early, so maybe take an extra layer for the return.

View up the direction of the trail, which starts around the flat area on the right hand side

View from thetrail toward the Maitai Dam slipway

Looking up the trail near the trail head

Reverse view near the trail head

Typical bush of the trail's first third

We met mountain bikers on this stretch. Be aware that this trail serves dual use for walkers and mountainbikers.

Near the stream crossing

Much further up the same stream

Typical forest over the last third of the trail

The extent of the cave - fairly friendly but a bit slippery. Only a thin rope guides you through the entrance.