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Waterfalls
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WATERFALLS This morning we go to see the local waterfalls, and I don't have enough superlatives to describe the experience! I think we were particularly lucky, as our fine sunny day had been preceded by several days of heavy rain.
Two kilometers from here, following towards Rotorua, we come to where the road crosses the Aniwaniwa River on a soon-to-be-replaced one way bridge. Just below the bridge, the river forks around a little island with a fall on each side, and then recombines to drop over a further fall.
There is a beautiful bush walk on each side of the river ...
... along which we enjoy the various native trees, tree ferns, ferns, tiny fronds and mosses, and view the falls.
These falls, swollen by the recent rains are magnificent – 15 and 11 metre drops, with incredible volumes of water all making a great roar.
We want to stay just to absorb the experience (not the spray!). Below the falls the river emerges more sedately into the lake.
Returning to the car, we drive over the bridge and travel 10 kilometres along the windy gravel road until we came to the bridge crossing the Mokau Stream.
Looking out across the gorge from the bridge, the lovely Tauwhare Falls drop 45 metres.
Then we realize that below us, just beyond the bridge, the Mokau Stream drops out of sight! Looking back from a lookout 300 metres further on, we can appreciate this 37 metre fall.
Leaving the Mokau Falls, we drive back to the Aniwaniwa bridge road junction with its old wagon,
and follow the river up a kilometre to the Papakorito Falls –
a 20 metre wall of water approached from below. Having come from an Australia stricken with drought, it's enough to make a grown man cry! Then back to the chalet for lunch.
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Waterfalls
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