Mangapohue Natural Bridge, Natural limestone arch in Waitomo, New Zealand
The Mangapohue Natural Bridge consists of two limestone arches stacked one above the other, with the upper structure towering 17 meters above the stream below. Both arches frame the Mangapohue Stream as it flows through this carved valley.
This limestone formation developed over thousands of years as water gradually dissolved the cave system that once existed here. The erosion process carved away the rock to reveal the two distinctive arches visitors see today.
The site holds deep meaning for local Māori who have inhabited and cared for this valley for countless generations, with the stone formations woven into their stories of the land.
A 700-meter boardwalk with wheelchair access leads from the parking area on Te Anga Road directly to the site. The path is flat and straightforward, though wet conditions can make it slippery.
The upper arch displays stalactites hanging from its ceiling, an unusual detail in an open-air natural bridge. These formations grew from mineral-rich water dripping downward over millennia.
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