Hidden beneath our feet lies a world of ancient wonder, a testament to Auckland’s fiery past. This is the story of Wiri Lava Cave Scientific Reserve. We are standing near Wiri Station Road. Four meters below us is a unique cave.
Imagine lava flowing, carving its way through the earth. The outer edges cooled creating a cavity. That cavity became Wiri Lava Cave. This cave is not just any cave. It is the best of its kind in New Zealand.
The Wiri Lava Cave is protected as a Scientific Reserve. Sadly you can’t just walk in. The cave is not open to the public to ensure its preservation.
Wiri Lava Cave is part of the Matukutururu volcano also known as Wiri Mountain. This volcano erupted around 32000 years ago. Scientists accurately dated a tree caught in the northern lava flow.
The lava that formed the Wiri Lava Cave came from the Manurewa volcano. This volcano was located immediately to the south. Sadly it was quarried out of existence for its scoria rock.
The Wiri Lava Cave itself is impressive stretching over 290 meters. In fact, Wiri Lava Cave is Auckland’s longest known lava cave. It features rare lava stalactites. This has earned it international recognition.
Inside the cave you would see smooth gas-glazed rock surfaces. Also visible are lava stalactites, circular tube gas vents and ridging on the floors. You might even spot contraction gaps at the base of the walls. Small mineral encrustations of calcite have been identified inside the cave.
The Wiri Lava Cave varies in size. Some parts are 7.6 meters high and 3.6 meters wide. Other parts are only 1.1 meters high and 0.2 meters wide.
Protecting the Wiri Lava Cave was a long battle. It took over 25 years to get legal protection because lava flows and scoria are valuable for quarrying. In 1998 the Wiri Lava Cave Scientific Reserve was finally established. The Minister of Conservation signed the gazetting in the cave itself.
Today the Wiri Lava Cave stands as a reminder of Auckland’s volcanic history. It is a place of scientific importance. Though hidden from view it represents the power and beauty of nature’s forces. It embodies smooth gas-flazed rock surfaces, lava stalactites and circular tube gas vents. Wiri Lava Cave is truly special.