Raglan Off The Beaten Path

4 more images

Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful 55m waterfall just outside the town of Raglan (13 kms). It is also within reasonable driving distance from the city of Hamilton.

To get there heading towards Raglan, turn left off State Highway 23 to Te Mata. Once past the little village of Te Mata, turn left on to Kawhia Road (this is a no exit road) and continue on until you see the Bridal Veil/Waireinga Falls carpark on your right.

From the carpark it is an easy walk into the top of the Bridal Veil Falls (also known as Waireinga Falls) The track to the lookout is very maintained and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs as well as those who don't have suitable walking footwear (you will need good walking shoes to get to the bottom

There are two good viewing areas at the top (the one of the left shows the top of the falls (very difficult to photograph) and then another just to the right where you can get a really good view of the whole falls.

If you are fit it’s also worth taking the steep set of steps down to the next viewing platform (there is a lookout midway down and then another platform and bridge when you get to the bottom. In total there are ???? steps - all are well formed but you need to a little fit to climb back up.

The pool at the bottom is about 5 metres deep but there is a large rock in the middle. Please note that the water quality does not meet health standards for swimming as there is significant run off from surrounding farmland which has discoloured the water.

Dept of Conservation say that it is a 20 minute trip to the bottom and back.