The hamlet

Hamlet (place)

A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...

 of Clifden, New Zealand is a small rural community on the Waiau River, Southland

Waiau River, Southland

Waiau River is the largest river in the Southland Region of New Zealand. It is the outflow of Lake Te Anau, flowing from it into Lake Manapouri 10 kilometres to the south, and from there flows south for 70 kilometres before reaching the Foveaux Strait eight kilometres south of Tuatapere...

, 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...

. It is notable for being the site of the Clifden Suspension Bridge

Clifden Suspension Bridge

The Clifden Suspension Bridge is an historic suspension bridge near Clifden, New Zealand. Built in 1899, it spans the Waiau River and is 111.5 m long.The bridge has been accessible to pedestrians only since 1978...

 (a government Category I historic site) and the Clifden Limestone Caves

Clifden Limestone Caves

The Clifden Limestone Cave System is located in the Western Southland Region of New Zealand close to the hamlet of Clifden on private land.-Geology:...

, well-known since early European settlers made it a "must see" place to visit.

Clifden war memorial

The Clifden Suspension Bridge is home to the Clifden war memorial - located near State Highway 96 outside of Tuatapere

Tuatapere

Tuatapere is a small rural town in Southland, New Zealand . It is located eight kilometres from the southern coast. The Waiau River flows through the town before reaching Te Waewae Bay, where it has its outflow into Foveaux Strait...

. It contains the names of local soldiers who fought and died in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

.

External links

• http://www.historic.org.nz/en/sitecore/content/Destinations/Home/placesToVisit/otagosouthland/ClifdenBridge.aspx
• http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/southland/murihiku/clifden-caves/
• http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/clifden-war-memorial