Caves overrun by glaciers are known to accumulate dateable evidence of past glacial and interglacial events. Results are reported from investigations of Aurora Cave in Fiordland, southern New Zealand, and from other caves. Aurora Cave is situated in the side of a glacial trough. The cave commenced to form before 230 ka B.P. Sequences of glacifluvial sediments interbedded with speleothems are evidence of the number and timing of glacial advances and the status of intervals between them. Twenty-six uranium series dates on speleothems underpin a chronology of seven glacial advances in the last 230 ka, with the peak of the last main glacial advance at ca. 19 ka BP. With five advances in the Last Glacial, it is more complex than previously recognised in New Zealand. Comparison of the evidence from caves with that recorded in deep sea sediments 300 km offshore from DSDP Site 594 reveals little matching. The results from caves support polar cap ice-core evidence for abrupt climate changes, but do not support synchroneity of onshore/offshore events.