Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Today's walk was a little further afield - about 150km away from my home in Hamilton, but a very worth drive.

The first destination was the Mangapohue natural bridge on Te Anga Road, about 25km away from Waitomo. The bridge is about 17m off the ground, and together with the gorge you walk through, forms the remnants of an ancient cave system. The walk itself is about 5 minutes, so not long at all.

A few photos:

Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Mangapohue Natural Bridge - Track with Swing Bridge

Mangapohue Natural Bridge - Track

Mangapohue Natural Bridge - Track

Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Once you've gone beneath the natural bridge, something else special is hiding in the same spot. Right inside these rocks for that matter - fossils!

Mangapohue Natural Bridge - Rocks

Mangapohue Natural Bridge - Fossillised shellfish

And few other things to take photos of too...

and a flower with a fly...

... a thistle with a bee...

Mmmm Blackberries

Blackberries - haul!

This has to be one of the best short tracks in the Waikato. Well worth a visit.