About The Chasm
The Chasm was really more of a nature walk than a waterfalling experience, but I’m including a write-up about it because there really was a waterfall within the narrow potholed gorge.
The problem was that the falls could only be heard loudly but not seen safely as the Cleddau River was busy carving its way mostly unseen through the hard rocks that gave rise to this chasm.
Not only was there a waterfall here, but there must have also been a natural bridge since the Cleddau River would disappear into the turbulent hole-like gorge only to re-emerge further downstream eventually emptying into the Milford Sound.
Our walk began from a very large car park (see directions below), which seemed to be so large that they accommodated tour groups here.
Sure enough, we were accompanied by a Japanese tour group but even with the increased traffic, the walk still felt serene and intimate as we walked at our own pace through the dense temperate rainforest before reaching a footbridge directly above where the Cleddau River dropped into the namesake Chasm.
Around the chasm itself were potholes in the rocks attesting to how the turbulent nature of the river would form little whirlpools or eddies that ultimately drilled those potholes.
Indeed, such a quirk of Mother Nature definitely left behind some psychedelic patterns, which made for some interesting photo ops.
And speaking of photo ops, I’m afraid that both the waterfall and possible arch couldn’t be photographed well since we were looking down into the drop of the Cleddau River as the river disappeared into the dark depths of the chasm.
Thus, Julie and I had to treat this as a nature walk to be experienced as opposed to photographed.
But at least it provided us with a chance to do a little walking instead of exclusively autotouring, especially since they had closed the walk to the base of nearby Bowen Falls just prior to our arrival in November 2004.
Authorities
The Chasm Walk is administered under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.
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