Huka Falls. Taupo. New Zealand.
S 38° 38.978 E 176° 05.380
60H E 420784 N 5721709
The Huka Falls are the largest falls on the Waikato River, near Taupo on New Zealand's North Island.
The Waikato river is one of New Zealand's longest rivers and it drains Lake Taupo - the largest freshwater lake in all of Australasia.
Waymark Code: WM3KE5
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 04/15/2008
Views: 133
Please upload your photo of the actual Huka Falls seen from the Lookout platform along the short track across the bridge.
The water view seen from the bridge is only the Rapids, it is NOT the Falls.
At the Huka Falls, the Waikato River which is normally 100m wide, is funnelled through a narrow chasm only 15m across forming a set of Rapids before plunging over the actual Falls, an 11m shelf into a deep circular basin.
The falls lie 5km below Taupo and 3km above Wairakei and supply water to the 90MW Aratiatia hydro-electric power station.
A walkway from the bridge across the river at the top of the Rapids leads to a platform above the Falls for wonderful photographic views.
The name “Huka”, meaning “foam”, is appropriate and the falls are an awesome sight under flood conditions.
NOTE: Surprisingly, most of the photos posted do not show the Falls at all, they are only photos taken from the bridge of the Rapids through the narrow channel.
PLEASE walk along the short track and photograph the actual Huka Falls from the lookout platform.