Huka Falls is a series of waterfalls on the Waikato River, about 10km from Lake Taupo.  A few hundred metres upstream from the Huka Falls, the Waikato River narrows from roughly 100 metres across into a narrow canyon only 15 metres across. It looks like it’s man-made, but actually it’s entirely natural. The canyon is carved into lake floor sediments laid down before Taupo’s big eruption 26,500 years ago. (And that was one mean eruption – it formed Lake Taupo which is 46kmx33km or 30milesx20miles)

This is a picture of the canyon, taken from the bridge that goes across:

Huka Falls - click to enlarge

One striking thing about the falls is how blue the water is. I don’t know if this is just the reflection of the blue sky, or whether there are disolved minerals, but the water looked freaky blue the day I was there.

The largest fall is at the bottom of the series of waterfalls

Huka Falls - click to enlarge

Huka Falls is well known for the Huka Falls Lodge, one of New Zealand’s most exclusive and expensive hotels. Rates start at about nz$2000 per night (us$1400) and go up to nz$12,340 per night (us$8600). So I guess it must be pretty amazing..

HDR Spotting Invite Codes

I have some of these if anyone is interested. Please send me a link to some of your pictures.

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