Huka Falls, Taupo

One thing I've learned is that when you are traveling you should always leave yourself extra driving time.

This is especially true when you are in a place as picturesque as New Zealand.



If you allow yourself time to roam then you can pull over whenever you see a sign that looks like it might lead to something interesting.



This is how we found Huka Falls. We had gone to catch our flight and it was delayed so we drove back past town to a sign we had seen earlier.



I haven't edited these photos at all. The water actually is this amazing color.



The deeper the water the more brilliant the color. In the rapids it was this pale clear aqua.



The roar from the rapids blocked out the sound of everyone else's voice.

Its amazing how the loud consistent sound can make everything seem so silent.



Its even more brilliant in person. Oh and the sky! The sky was such a pretty blue.



The air is so fresh, so clean and you can smell the water running below you. It makes you want to just dip your hand in that water and take a drink.

For decades the power from the falls powered the hotel we stayed at. Its really impressive how people have used these rivers for centuries.



There are a few companies that also offer river cruises to get a very close view of the falls and its surrounding.



They got quite close, I'm sure they were all pretty damp.

Telephoto lenses are the coolest.



Around Huka Falls are tons of walking trails. They are all clearly marked with the amount of time it will take to walk the loop.



I think I've fantasized about these footpaths before. I just know if I took the time I could find all sorts of magical worlds behind those leaves.



Under the cover of these paths everything smells damp and alive. I love the smell of wet dirt. I love the smell of rain.



Every thing here is so entirely alive.



It is so powerful.



Where do you go for a water fix? The beach? A pool? A crick :) The interwebs?