Mangapohue Natural Arch. Waikato. New Zealand.
S 38° 15.585 E 174° 54.045
60H E 316333 N 5763280
The scenic wonder of the Mangapohue Natural Bridge is revealed at the end of a short Gorge walking track in a reserve on the Waitomo-Marokopa road, west of Waitomo.
Waymark Code: WM622Q
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 03/19/2009
Views: 6
The 17m-high limestone arch spans the Mangapohue Stream, and is all that remains of an ancient cave system in a reserve on the Waitomo-Marokopa road, reached by a walking track through a gorge beside the stream. This reserve is situated in limestone country featuring rock outcrops, depressions, sinkholes, caves and underground waterways, gorges and bridges or natural arches.
The steep walls of this Mangapohue gorge were probably once the walls of a large cave. As the cave slowly grew its roof became unstable and eventually the roof collapsed turning the cave into a gorge. The natural bridge (arch) is the only section of the roof remaining intact. There are in fact two bridges, one on top of the other. The viewing platform beneath the overhead top arch is in fact situated on a lower bridge of limestone. The walking track continues around the back and climbs up onto the top arch but please be careful if you are walking up there. Adventure groups do abseil off the top arch.
Photo of the Arch by itself?: yes
Type of Arch: Water Eroded
Type of Material:
Limestone cave system eroded by water.
|
Visit Instructions:
You must post a picture of you with a GPSr or Geocaching/Waymarking attire/equipment and the subject arch in the background.