3D Cave Mapping

Mapping New Zealand's longest limestone cave in 3D

Title image

Join us on an expedition to New Zealand’s longest limestone cave hidden deep in the Kahurangi National Park.

Over the five days on the expedition to 3D-map parts of the Megamania cave system we prospect for caves close by, visit other parts of Megamania and get into the daily expedition and camp routine.

We return with fantastic memories and a hard drive full of videos, photos and gigabytes of data to render the 3D model.

Megamania 3D Fly-Through

Feel like a ‘cave-o-naut’ and take a flight through the 3D model. The journey takes you from the Mudroom (which is indeed very muddy!) through the large phreatic tubes of Megablast and to the rock formation called the Face. 

Main Entrance Megamania
Megamania Main Entrance
Campsite at Megamania
Magamania Campsite
Cross section of cave with caver
Anna in the Cave Passage
Two tunnels over each other
Two connecting tunnels
Megamania Cave Passage
Megamania Cave Passage
Megamania Cave Keyhole
Keyhole Cave Passage
Big underground passage
Megablast Passage
The Dragon Face Rock Formation
Inside the Cave Model
The Face
The Face
Looking top down into the cave passage
Looking onto the Face
Coffee in Megablast
Coffee in Megablast
The Great Wall
The Great Wall
Potentially new Cave Weta species
Potentially new Cave Weta species
Anna
Anna
Close to Chicken Entrance
Close to Chicken Entrance
Crystals
Crystals
Mapping Team
Mapping Team
Heaphy Track
Heaphy Track
Sunset at Heaphy River
Sunset at Heaphy River
Radio Operator
Radio Operator
Tramping
Tramping
Bush Tracks
Bush Tracks
Camping life
Camping life
Anna and Nicole making plans

3D Mapping Team  – Anna & Nicole

Looking top down onto the cave

Looking onto the Great Wall section

Special Thanks

This project would not have been possible without the ongoing support from many others! Special thanks to Dan Monaghan & Reality Virtual, Allan Hosking & Survey Solutions Tauranga and GeoSlam for technical support, to Rachel LaFond for her amazing music and to the Wellington Caving Group, NZSS for organising the expedition.

Find out more about cave life biodiversity here and read more about Nicole and Anna on our About page.

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