Saturday, 24th February 2007
After driving to Taupo I found a walk that would take in a waterfall and rapids. At 3 hours each way it was a good distance and by walking briskly at the start I was able to time my arrival at the floodgates shortly before they opened.
Looking back to Tongariro National Park on the way to Taupo
The Huka Falls, the largest on the Waikato River near Taupo
The Waikato River, normally 100 metres wide, . . .
narrows to just 15 metres . . .
as it crosses a hard volcanic ledge
The Aratiatia rapids are one of the Waikato River's most outstanding features
Water is released down the Rapids from Lake Aratiatia several times a day
In a distance of about half a mile . . .
the river descends 300ft across a series of hard ribs of rhyolite . . .
which have been uncovered by the river . . .
as it progressively cut down through the overlaying blanket of soft pumice
Astriatia Rapids . . .
again . . .
and again . . .
and once more
Returning by the same route I pass the floodgates again . . .
then spot a flock of back swans on Lake Aratiatia
Continuing back past the Huka Falls . . .
the sun has come out . . .
and from the bottom viewpoint . . .
I can see lots of people on the opposite bank