{{Short description|Cave in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox cave | name = Ellis Basin cave system | other_name = | alt_name = <!-- Image --> | photo = | photo_width = | photo_alt = | photo_caption = <!-- Map --> | map = New Zealand | relief = yes | map_alt = Relief map of New Zealand with a red dot in the upper South Island showing the location of the cave system | map_caption = Location of Ellis Basin cave system | label = Ellis Basin | label_position = | location = [[Wharepapa / Arthur Range]] | grid_ref = | coords = {{coord|-41.232|172.685|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | mapframe = <!-- set to "yes" to show an interactive map --> <!-- Stats --> | depth = {{convert|1026|m}} | length = {{convert|33.4|km}} | height_variation = | elevation = | discovery = 1960s | geology = [[Limestone]] }} The '''Ellis Basin cave system''' is a group of interconnecting [[limestone]] [[cave]]s located in the [[Mount Arthur (New Zealand)|Mount Arthur]] region of the northwest [[South Island]] of New Zealand.

The Ellis Basin cave system was first explored by [[caver]]s in the 1960s. In April 2010, the cave system was found to be deeper than the nearby [[Nettlebed Cave]], making it the deepest known cave in the Southern hemisphere.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kahurangi National Park: a treasured possession |url=https://www.aa.co.nz/travel/editorial/kahurangi-national-park-a-treasured-possession/ |website=www.aa.co.nz |access-date=13 January 2024 |language=en-nz}}</ref> It has been explored to a depth of {{Convert|1,024|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and its {{Convert|33.4|km|abbr=on}} of cave passages make it New Zealand's second longest.<ref>{{cite news |author=Board |first=Andrew |date=13 April 2010 |title=Historic discovery by NZ cavers |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3578642/Historic-discovery-by-NZ-cavers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234735/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3578642/Historic-discovery-by-NZ-cavers |archive-date=9 November 2018 |work=Nelson Mail}}</ref>

== See also== * [[List of caves in New Zealand]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016095954/http://caves.org.nz/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NZSS/CavingAreas Caving areas in New Zealand]

{{Kahurangi National Park}} {{Tasman District}}

[[Category:Caves of the Tasman District]] [[Category:Kahurangi National Park]]

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