Waiwhakaiho River bridge, Egmont National Park, New Zealand
Posted by: 
Phronimos
S 39° 14.988 E 174° 05.795
60H E 249452 N 5651484
On the Kaiauai Track between Egmont Road and Henry Peak on the Pouakai Ranges this suspension bridge crosses 30+ m above the Waiwhakaiho River - one of the major rivers flowing off the mountain and uncrossable when swollen.
Waymark Code: WMA695
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 11/22/2010
Views: 3
Twenty minutes in from the track start, the Waiwhakaiho suspension bridge crosses the main channel of the river of the same name. Such is the ferocity of the water coming down the river off the mountain, that the foundations 30 metres above the river were washed away in 2007, but have since been replaced, although it could do with tightening, as it sways quite a bit.
This bridge is an integral part of the "Northern Circuit" from North Egmont Visitor's Centre to Holly Hut on the mountain to Pouakai Hut on the Pouakai Ranges out to the North Egmont road, 2 km below the Visitor's centre.
Thirty years ago one had to descend to the river bed down a series of ladders attached to the river bank, to cross by a three-wire suspension bridge - a lot more fun, but impossible when the river was running high.
Visit Instructions:
Walk across the bridge! That is why you came here, wasn't it?
Bring a camera so that you can take a photo of the bridge. Upload at least one photo that you took of the bridge, you or others can be in the photo.
Include any additional history that you may know or have learned about the bridge.
Last but not least, include any story you may have about finding the bridge or your journey across the bridge.