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Bridal Veil Falls, Arthur's PassWaterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide
Bridal Veil Falls is aptly named, with a flowing white cascade that wraps around dark rock outcrops, and then falls in a light curtain down into the
depths of the forest. In winter, the falls are fringed with white ice, which adds to the falls' contrast with the darkness of the surrounding bush.
Above: Bridal Veil Falls from the lookout on the Arthur's Pass Walking Track
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The lookout for viewing the falls is along the Arthur's Pass Walking Track, mid-way between the Devil's Punchbowl car park and the Jack's Hut car park. The lookout is elevated, with an uninterrupted view of the falls, but at a distance of over 500 metres.
There is no walking trail closer to the falls, so make sure you bring a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens to get a closer view from the lookout.
Above: An icy cascade near Bridal Veil Falls along the Arthur's Pass Walking Track
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Fortunately, there are pretty cascades on the two creek crossings between the lookout and the Devil's Punchbowl car park. The second of these, on Bridal Veil Creek, shows the bottom tier of a 60 metre drop that is otherwise obscured by the thick forest. The walk itself is undulating and reasonably dry under foot, with pedestrian bridges across all of the creek crossings.
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Above: Bridal Veil Falls from the lookout on the Arthur's Pass Walking Track
(Order this image)
The lookout for viewing the falls is along the Arthur's Pass Walking Track, mid-way between the Devil's Punchbowl car park and the Jack's Hut car park. The lookout is elevated, with an uninterrupted view of the falls, but at a distance of over 500 metres.
Above: An icy cascade near Bridal Veil Falls along the Arthur's Pass Walking Track
(Order this image)
Fortunately, there are pretty cascades on the two creek crossings between the lookout and the Devil's Punchbowl car park. The second of these, on Bridal Veil Creek, shows the bottom tier of a 60 metre drop that is otherwise obscured by the thick forest. The walk itself is undulating and reasonably dry under foot, with pedestrian bridges across all of the creek crossings.
Your Seasonal Guide:
| Best Time of Year to Visit: | Best Time of Day to Visit: |
|---|---|
| Streamflow data is not locally available for this river, but based on available rainfall information, there is likely to be reliable flow over the falls all year round, with flows evenly spread throughout the year. | Visit from midday onwards to see the bridal veil illuminated by the sun. |
Other Information Before You Go:
Location: Accessible from Punchbowl Road, opposite 100 West Coast Road (State Highway 73), Arthur's Pass National Park, Arthurs Pass,
150 km (approx. 2 hour drive) north west of the Christchurch city centre.
Latitude:-42.923851 Longitude:171.566736
Getting there: From Christchurch head along the State Highway 73 through Sheffield and Springfield up to Arthur's Pass. In Arthur's Pass, after passing the shops in the main street, turn right down Punchbowl Road on the northern side of town. The car park for the walk to the falls is about 150 metres from the highway. From the car park, follow the track, turning left at the signpost after crossing the Bealey River. It's about 1 km to the lookout.
Water source: Bridal Veil Creek
Approx. height: 108 metres (source: NZ Dept of Conservation)
Approx. width: 20 metres
Approx. length: Near vertical drop after an initial cascade
Swimming available at the falls: None. You can put your feet in the water at the Bridal Veil Creek crossing, but it is not deep enough for a swim.
Facilities: A single picnic table at the lookout. Car park at the start of the walking trail. No other facilities, so take your rubbish home with you.
Entrance fee: None
Opening times: Always open
Sun shade: No shade at the lookout. The walk through the forest is mostly shaded, but sections of the walking trail have no shade.
Wheelchair access: None
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No dogs.
Managing authority: NZ Department of Conservation
Nearby attractions: Devil's Punchbowl Falls, which is also accessible from the car park, and Avalanche Creek Falls, back in town, roughly 500 metres south of Punchbowl Road.
Before you head out, make sure you read the
waterfall safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions.
Latitude:-42.923851 Longitude:171.566736
Getting there: From Christchurch head along the State Highway 73 through Sheffield and Springfield up to Arthur's Pass. In Arthur's Pass, after passing the shops in the main street, turn right down Punchbowl Road on the northern side of town. The car park for the walk to the falls is about 150 metres from the highway. From the car park, follow the track, turning left at the signpost after crossing the Bealey River. It's about 1 km to the lookout.
Water source: Bridal Veil Creek
Approx. height: 108 metres (source: NZ Dept of Conservation)
Approx. width: 20 metres
Approx. length: Near vertical drop after an initial cascade
Swimming available at the falls: None. You can put your feet in the water at the Bridal Veil Creek crossing, but it is not deep enough for a swim.
Facilities: A single picnic table at the lookout. Car park at the start of the walking trail. No other facilities, so take your rubbish home with you.
Entrance fee: None
Opening times: Always open
Sun shade: No shade at the lookout. The walk through the forest is mostly shaded, but sections of the walking trail have no shade.
Wheelchair access: None
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No dogs.
Managing authority: NZ Department of Conservation
Nearby attractions: Devil's Punchbowl Falls, which is also accessible from the car park, and Avalanche Creek Falls, back in town, roughly 500 metres south of Punchbowl Road.
Locality Map:
The marker indicates the approximate location of the start of the trail to the falls. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply refresh this web page.
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Comments:
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