Ana Te Pahu

Sections of Ana Te Pahu are famous for light gardens—ferns fed by sun shafts through ceiling collapses. The tube could house extended families during storms.

Stay on authorised paths; cave soils are archaeologically sensitive. Closed-toe shoes essential; carry two light sources.

Tunnels of Ana Te Pahu lava tube with historic rock beds.

The tunnels of Ana Te Pahu were home to many families.

Light through opening in ceiling of Ana Te Pahu.

Light through a ceiling opening — the “banana cave” effect inside Ana Te Pahu.

Together with coastal paenga houses and hare paenga, lava tubes show the engineering creativity islanders applied to wind, drought, and limited timber.