Mangapohue Natural Bridge facts for kids

Double rock arches at Mangapohue Natural Bridge

The Mangapohue Natural Bridge is a cool natural wonder in New Zealand. It has two amazing rock arches that were carved out by the Mangapohue Stream. You can find this special spot in the Marokopa River valley, not far from the famous Waitomo Caves.

What is the Mangapohue Natural Bridge?

This natural bridge is made of limestone and stands about 17 meters (that's about 56 feet) tall! It's actually what's left of an old cave system that collapsed a long, long time ago.

The Two Arches: Upper and Lower

The Mangapohue Natural Bridge has two main parts:

• The lower arch is smaller and goes right over the Mangapohue Stream. You can't walk through this one.
• The upper arch is bigger and sits right above the lower arch. It has a special platform where you can look up and see cool rock formations called stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

How to Visit the Natural Bridge

Getting to the Mangapohue Natural Bridge is pretty easy.

Getting There by Road

You can drive there on Te Anga Road. This road is paved and connects to New Zealand State Highway 3. The bridge is about 25 kilometers (or 15 miles) west of the Waitomo Caves.

The Easy Walk to the Arches

Once you arrive at the carpark, there's a short and easy walk to the natural bridge.

• The path is flat and even good for wheelchairs.
• It only takes about 5 minutes to reach the arches.
• The walk goes through a beautiful limestone gorge.
• You'll cross the stream once on a wooden bridge.
• The path ends at a viewing platform right below the rock arches.
• There are also steps that lead to another viewing platform between the lower and upper arches.
• If you want to explore more, a track continues for about 15 minutes over nearby farmland.