BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

Forest and Bird, Issue 96, 1 May 1950, Page 6

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

By

GORDON V. GOW.

'T’HIS is the picturesque but very appropriate -**- name of a very pretty waterfall in the Te Mata district, in Raglan County.

The township of Te Mata is about five miles along a side road which branches from the main road to Raglan at a point some six miles from Raglan, and the falls are another five miles further on after passing the local store. Much publicity has been given to the falls of late as the result of an agitation by local residents and others to have the area embracing the falls safeguarded by the creation of a Domain Board or similar body which would be responsible for its care and preservation as well as for the reafforestation of part of the area.

The access track from the road to the falls has lately been put in order and, after a pleasant walk of some minutes through the native bush, one suddenly emerges and finds oneself on the edge of a precipice looking down over a bush-covered valley, while the waters of the stream which the track has followed plunge over the abyss at one’s feet.

On reaching the foot of the falls by means of a steep rugged track through the bush, and not till then, one sees the cascade to advantage.

As the waters descend through almost 200 feet of sheer drop the veil of spray is wafted this way and that in ever-changing form in a most fascinating manner. No wonder the choice of name for the falls is such a happy one.

The geological structure of the waterfall is interesting. Like most falls it depends for its existence on hard rock overlying a softer formation which latter in course of time erodes at a quicker rate.

In this case the uppermost material is columnar basaltic rock lying on sandstone. The appearance of the former is reminiscent of the famed Fingal’s cave in the island of Staffa. The sandstone flanking three sides of the pool at the base of the fall, including the recessed space behind the curtain of falling waters, is clothed in a close growth of para-taniwha, that fascinating plant which is such a feature of the gorges of the Wanganui river. The constant showers of spray provide ideal conditions for this plant.