Bridal Veil Falls (officially Wairēinga / Bridal Veil Falls; Māori: Wairēinga) is a plunge waterfall located along the Pakoka River in the Waikato area of New Zealand. The waterfall is 55 m (180 ft) high, and has over time caused the formation of a large pool at the base of the waterfall. The falls are in the 217 ha (540 acres)[1] Wairēinga Scenic Reserve (created in 1884)[2] with tawa-dominated forest.[1]
The water cascades over a basalt cliff, formed by volcanic activity,[3] when an Okete Volcanics vent, on the 226 m (741 ft) hill just to the north, erupted 2.57 million years ago[4] and blocked the valley.[5]
Access and recreational activitiesedit
Approximately 15 minutes from the nearby town of Raglan, the falls are an easy 10-minute walk[6] through native bush, along the Pakoka River. Facilities include parking, long-drop toilets and four lookout platforms. River crossings are bridged. It is a steep descent to the falls base by 261 steps cut into a well maintained path.[7]
400m beyond Bridal Veil car park, where Kawhia Rd becomes gravel, is the start of the 6 km Pipiwharauroa Way walking and cycling track.
Swimming and rock climbingedit
The pool should not be swum in as water quality does not meet health standards for swimming.
Abseiling and rock climbing are not permitted due to damage to endangered plant life[8] (the threatened spider orchid Corybas “Kaitarakihi” (Corybas aff. rivularis)).[9]
Wairēinga framed by native bush, as seen from the midway viewing platform
^Stipp, J. J. (1968). The geochronology and petrogenesis of the Cenozoic volcanics of North Island. New Zealand [Ph. D. thesis]: Canberra, Australian National University.
^Barry Clayton Waterhouse, P. J. White (1994). Geology of the Raglan-Kawhia Area. Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences (N.Z.). pp. map. ISBN0-478-08837-X.
^DoC 2013 consultation document page 97 22 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
1898 photograph in Auckland Weekly News
Accounts of visits in 1893, before formation of the road, and in 1900
April 15, 2024
bridal, veil, falls, waikato, other, places, with, same, name, bridal, veil, falls, disambiguation, bridal, veil, falls, officially, wairēinga, bridal, veil, falls, māori, wairēinga, plunge, waterfall, located, along, pakoka, river, waikato, area, zealand, wat. For other places with the same name see Bridal Veil Falls disambiguation Bridal Veil Falls officially Waireinga Bridal Veil Falls Maori Waireinga is a plunge waterfall located along the Pakoka River in the Waikato area of New Zealand The waterfall is 55 m 180 ft high and has over time caused the formation of a large pool at the base of the waterfall The falls are in the 217 ha 540 acres 1 Waireinga Scenic Reserve created in 1884 2 with tawa dominated forest 1 Waireinga Bridal Veil FallsMaori WaireingaBridal Veil Falls as seen from the second lookout LocationWaikato New ZealandCoordinates37 54 31 S 174 53 48 E 37 908518 S 174 896636 E 37 908518 174 896636TypePlungeTotal height55 metres 180 ft WatercoursePakoka RiverThe Bridal Veil Falls from the bottom Contents 1 Formation 2 Access and recreational activities 2 1 Swimming and rock climbing 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksFormation editThe water cascades over a basalt cliff formed by volcanic activity 3 when an Okete Volcanics vent on the 226 m 741 ft hill just to the north erupted 2 57 million years ago 4 and blocked the valley 5 Access and recreational activities editApproximately 15 minutes from the nearby town of Raglan the falls are an easy 10 minute walk 6 through native bush along the Pakoka River Facilities include parking long drop toilets and four lookout platforms River crossings are bridged It is a steep descent to the falls base by 261 steps cut into a well maintained path 7 400m beyond Bridal Veil car park where Kawhia Rd becomes gravel is the start of the 6 km Pipiwharauroa Way walking and cycling track Swimming and rock climbing edit The pool should not be swum in as water quality does not meet health standards for swimming Abseiling and rock climbing are not permitted due to damage to endangered plant life 8 the threatened spider orchid Corybas Kaitarakihi Corybas aff rivularis 9 nbsp Waireinga framed by native bush as seen from the midway viewing platformSee also editWaterfall FormationReferences edit a b DoC 2013 consultation document page 97 Archived 22 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine CW Vennell amp Susan Williams 1976 Raglan County Hills and Sea 1876 1976 Wilson amp Horton for Raglan County Council p 292 ISBN 0868640026 Te Ara Encyclopedia formation of waterfalls Stipp J J 1968 The geochronology and petrogenesis of the Cenozoic volcanics of North Island New Zealand Ph D thesis Canberra Australian National University Barry Clayton Waterhouse P J White 1994 Geology of the Raglan Kawhia Area Institute of Geological amp Nuclear Sciences N Z pp map ISBN 0 478 08837 X Tramper co nz New Stairs at Waireinga Bridal Veil Falls www raglan23 co nz 10 February 2010 Archived from the original on 22 February 2013 Retrieved 25 March 2016 Department of Conservation area guide DoC 2013 consultation document page 97 Archived 22 February 2013 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit1898 photograph in Auckland Weekly News Accounts of visits in 1893 before formation of the road and in 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bridal Veil Falls Waikato amp oldid 1218687180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
