The beautiful Huka Falls are located near to Huka Village, a short drive north of Taupo, New Zealand. The Huka Falls are the largest falls on the Waikato River and New Zealand's most visited natural attraction. Fabulous blue-green hues, the Huka Falls are a breathtaking sight to behold. Though not one of New Zealand’s highest waterfalls, the Huka Falls pumps over 220,000 liters per second of crystal clear water over its rocky steps making them one of New Zealand’s largest falls.The Waikato River, normally up to 100 meters wide, abruptly narrows to just 15 meters as it crosses a hard volcanic ledge. This of course causes a huge volume of water to collide together, forming a spectacular visual feast of powerful falls and rapids. The canyon is carved into lake floor sediments laid down before Taupo's Oruanui eruption 26,500 years ago.





The name Huka is the Maori word for 'foam', which is appropriate as the falling water and rapids certainly resembles foam, especially under flooding conditions. At the top of the falls is a set of small waterfalls dropping over about 8 meters. The final stage of the falls is over a 6 meter drop, raised to an effective 11m fall by the depth of the water. The falls are a popular tourist attraction, being close to Taupo and readily accessible from State Highway One.





The falls featured in a national scandal in February 1989 when the body of cricket umpire Peter Plumley-Walker was found downstream, with wrists and ankles bound. The resulting investigation exposed the Auckland bondage scene. Dominatrix Renee Chignall was acquitted of his murder after three trials.

Huka falls near Rotorua. Image credit Mrunal Huli

Image credit e lauscinska

Image credit billandkent



