{"id":11535,"date":"2012-11-14T09:43:30","date_gmt":"2012-11-14T09:43:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=11535"},"modified":"2013-12-01T07:11:38","modified_gmt":"2013-12-01T07:11:38","slug":"gravel-roads-waterfalls-and-black-sands-new-zealand-day-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2012\/11\/gravel-roads-waterfalls-and-black-sands-new-zealand-day-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Gravel Roads, Waterfalls and Black Sands – New Zealand Day 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

After our now customary breakfast of muesli with yoghurt, several cups of coffee and toast with New Zealand Manuka honey it was time for a quick shower in the campsite and then off towards Bridal Veil Falls near Raglan. We had planned to check out the surf at Raglan which is\u00a0probably\u00a0the most famous of all New Zealand surf spots, but seeing as I’d spent the day before surfing we decided to miss it out of the itinerary. Instead we thought we’d visit Bridal Veil Falls and then return back to the hot springs on the beach near Kawhia. We borrowed spades from the campsite and set off towards Raglan.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Twisty Road to Raglan<\/p><\/div>\n

I’d seen the road to Raglan yesterday as we approached Kawhia and saw that it was another gravel road. These are\u00a0always\u00a0interesting to drive along so I was looking forward to it. And what a road it is, 30 miles or so of twisting, winding, dusty gravel track cutting through the middle of the forest and skirting the Aotea Harbour. The drive itself was exciting and the scenery spectacular as we forged through the forest without seeing another car for miles. We passed yet more beehives and plenty of lovely looking secluded picnic spots and eventually came to the turning for Bridal Veil Falls. Unfortunately the road was closed so we had to continue along the gravel road almost all the way to Raglan where we could join the Main Highway 23 for a short while before turning off onto another road to the falls themselves. Here’s a short section of the road to show you how twisty it was along with some photos along the way.<\/p>\n

\"Aotea<\/a>

Aotea Harbour<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Road to Raglan<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Road to Raglan<\/p><\/div>\n

There were a number of people parked at the falls so we joined them and set off on a short walk first to the top of the falls and then down to the bottom for some good views of the waterfall. Located along the Pakoka River, Bridal Veil Falls is 55m high and has formed a large plunge pool in the soft sandstone at its base whilst the harder basalt over which it flows forms a vertical cliff behind it. Despite the impressive nature of the waterfall there isn’t actually much water flowing over it and the stream\u00a0leaving the plunge pool was quite small.<\/p>\n

\"Bridal<\/a>

Bridal Veil Falls<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t