Bridal Veil Falls

New Zealand’s Bridal Veil Falls is one of the most lush waterfalls in the country. It is a 55m drop surrounded by picturesque views and the Maori refer to it as Wairenga which means ‘leaping waters.’ It is located on the Pakoka river in Waikato area and is just a 25-minute drive from Raglan and 2 hours from Auckland. The drop of the falls has eroded the base creating a pool at the bottom. This waterfall cascades over basalt cliffs created by volcanic activity a million years ago. There is a clear path to the waterfall and there are also picnic tables at the beginning of the walk which you can enjoy.

You can access the waterfalls via a walking track which is easy, flat and well-maintained. It begins with a 10-minute walk through the forest and you can notice Nikau palms and a canopy of Tawa trees. There are wild orchids and signboards explaining the fauna and flora of the region. The first platform is called ‘Top of the Falls Viewpoint’ and has beautiful views of the Pakoka Valley. The ‘Upper Viewing’ platform is to the right and you can enjoy the falls from a slight distance. You can keep walking to the midway viewpoint and bridge at the base of the falls where you can appreciate the greenery and height of the falls. The whole track is 1.4km and takes 20 minutes to complete. Swimming is not allowed here as the falls are not safe.