Clifden Suspension Bridge

Constructed in 1899 this elegant suspension bridge crossing the Waiau river is no longer open to traffic. (The bridge is now also closed to pedestrian traffic) The original design was by P S Hay of the Public Works Department. It has a suspension span 42 metres long.

After WWI the District's Roll of Honour was placed upon the bridge, it is a marble tablet in the concrete pile and is a rather sobering list of young men lost from a farming District itself still young and developing. Road traffic uses the new bridge that was put up to serve the Manapouri Power Station in the 1970s. The river flow reduced after the Power Station started up.

Just up the road are the Clifden Caves, and Maori Rock Art is also said to another feature of this area, if you find any, please let us know.