Huka Falls, Taupō

The Waikato River, New Zealand's longest, squeezes from about 100 m wide into a narrow rocky chasm just 15 m wide, then thunders over an 11 m drop in a surge of bright blue-white water. Up to 220,000 litres a second pour over the falls.

A footbridge crosses the gorge, with viewing platforms on both sides. The Huka Falls Walkway (about 1 hour each way) follows the river from Taupō's Spa Park, past the hot stream, to the falls. Jet boats and river cruises run up to the base of the falls from the Wairakei area. Nearby are the Wairakei Terraces, hot pools with terraces made of silica, and the Craters of the Moon geothermal walk.