The first sight that Judy and I took in when we drove down from Auckland, the capital of New Zealand, to the Lake Taupo area, was “Huka Falls.” Just north of the city of Taupo (and Lake Taupo, which is on the south side of the city) is a fast- moving river that cut a deep chasm. The river then falls off a small cliff into a wider area, where it slows down. Riding a kayak down the falls would be a fun thing to do! Mostly, tourists just come to see and hear the roaring river and the falls.

A river that runs most of the length of New Zealand starts moving faster as it enters a narrow chasm in the rocks.

As the river flows under the bridge, spectators look at the turquoise colored water.

The river gets more violent, the farther down the chasm in moves.

Near the falls, a shot back up the chasm shows the walking bridge that allowed us to cross the river.

The falls only drops about 25 feet, but still creates a pretty good turbulence – with undertows that can be hazardous.

A view of Huka Falls from a spot just past the area where the river caroms over the edge.

About 200 yards farther downstream, the river returns to a more lazy pattern.