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Bridal Veil Falls (Waikato)
Encyclopedia
Bridal Veil Falls is a plunge waterfall located along the Pakoka River in the Waikato
area of New Zealand
. The waterfall is 55 metres high, and has over time caused the formation of a large pool at the base of the waterfall.
where the waterfall is located was worn down, leaving the hard basalt cliff behind. The water cascades from this cliff, and further erodes
the sandstone at the base, which is cause of the large pool.
and four lookout platforms. River crossings are bridged.It is a steep descent to the falls base, not handicap enabled. Over 300 steps cut into a well maintained path.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
area of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The waterfall is 55 metres high, and has over time caused the formation of a large pool at the base of the waterfall.
Formation
Over time, the sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
where the waterfall is located was worn down, leaving the hard basalt cliff behind. The water cascades from this cliff, and further erodes
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
the sandstone at the base, which is cause of the large pool.
- See also: Waterfall Formation
Access and recreational activities
Approximately 15 minutes from the nearby town of Raglan, the falls can be found after an easy 10 minute walk through native bush, along the Pakoka River. Facilities include parking, long-drop toiletsPit toilet
A pit toilet is a dry toilet system which collects human excrement in a large container and range from a simple slit trench to more elaborate systems with ventilation. They are more often used in rural and wilderness areas as well as in much of the developing world...
and four lookout platforms. River crossings are bridged.It is a steep descent to the falls base, not handicap enabled. Over 300 steps cut into a well maintained path.
Swimming and rock climbing
- The pool should not be swum in as water quality does not meet health standards for swimming.
- AbseilingAbseilingAbseiling , rappelling in American English, is the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope; climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection.- Slang terms :...
and rock climbingRock climbingRock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
are not permitted due to damage to endangered plant life.