# Gardner's Gut > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gardner's_Gut > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gardner's_Gut.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardner's_Gut > Source revision: 1348718896 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Cave in New Zealand Straws ([stalactite](/source/Stalactite) precursors) in the cave. **Gardner's Gut** is an extensive [cave](/source/Cave) system in the [Waitomo](/source/Waitomo) area of New Zealand.[1] It is located in the [Ruakuri Caves & Bush Scenic Reserve](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruakuri_Caves_%26_Bush_Scenic_Reserve&action=edit&redlink=1), an area that also contains a number of other natural features of note. The reserve is administered by [New Zealand's Department of Conservation](/source/Department_of_Conservation_(New_Zealand)) (DOC).[2] With a length of over 12 km of explored passages, it is New Zealand's 6th largest known cave system, and the largest in the North Island.[3] ## Description The caves making up the Gardner's Gut system are almost all composed of former or still active 'stream caves' (i.e. tunnels washed out of the limestone by water action). Various [caving clubs](/source/Caving) from throughout the North Island use it for beginner trips, as it provides a variety of true caving experiences (such as squeeze points, narrow and winding streamways, large underground halls, fascinating formations and bush tramping to get to and from the entrances), yet is easy enough to pass through for any reasonably fit and non-[claustrophobic](/source/Claustrophobia) person. The normal beginners area of the cave is around the *Zweihoehlen*-entrance ('Two Caves' in [German](/source/German_language)) near the river. Associated with the large number of amateur trips (whether accompanied by professional cavers or not) is a certain level of degradation in the cave. As cave systems are very fragile environments, many parts of Gardner's Gut cave have been damaged by the relatively frequent visits of inexperienced cavers (with, for example, formations broken off, and limestone formations dirtied, which prevents their continuing growth). However, this damage is almost invisible to a casual amateur. One of the most impressive features of the cave is the 'Birthday Candle', the tallest known [stalagmite](/source/Stalagmite) in the country, being around 6–7 meters high and having a diameter of around 2 meters.[4] ## See also - [List of caves in New Zealand](/source/List_of_caves_in_New_Zealand) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Caves](https://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/C/Caves/Caves/en) (from [Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand](/source/Te_Ara%3A_The_Encyclopedia_of_New_Zealand)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Ruakuri Caves & Bush Scenic Reserve](http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/Waikato/Waitomo-pureora/Ruakuri-caves-and-bush-scenic-reserve/) (from the [New Zealand Department of Conservation](/source/New_Zealand_Department_of_Conservation) website) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Longest New Zealand Caves](http://caves.org.nz/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NZSS/LongestCaves) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080108030931/http://caves.org.nz/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/NZSS/LongestCaves) 8 January 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (from the [New Zealand Speleological Society](/source/New_Zealand_Speleological_Society) website. Retrieved 11 December 2007.) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Te Rauamoa: Waitomo and Te Kuiti](http://www.teararoa.org.nz/trail_stories.php?story_id=29) "Birthday Candle" stalagmite in Gardner's Gut cave, Waitomo [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060819035600/http://www.teararoa.org.nz/trail_stories.php?story_id=29) 19 August 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (from [Te Araroa Trust](/source/Te_Araroa) website. Retrieved 11 December 2007.) [38°15′52″S 175°04′30″E / 38.264383°S 175.075099°E / -38.264383; 175.075099](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Gardner%27s_Gut¶ms=38.264383_S_175.075099_E_type:landmark_region:NZ) v t e Waitomo District, New Zealand Seat: Te Kūiti Populated places Āria Awakino Maniaiti / Benneydale Māhoenui Marokopa Mōkau Piopio Rangitoto Taharoa Te Anga Te Kūiti Tiroa Waikawau Waitomo Geographic features Castle Craig Rock Gardner's Gut Lake Harihari Mangapohue Natural Bridge Marokopa Falls Rangitoto Range Ruakuri Cave Waitomo Glowworm Caves Facilities and attractions Kopaki railway station Mangapehi railway station Poro-O-Tarao railway station Puketutu railway station Te Kuiti railway station Wairere Power Station Waiteti railway station Waiteti Viaduct Waitomo Caves Hotel Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Organisations Piopio College --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gardner's Gut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardner's_Gut) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardner's_Gut?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.