Ballance Bridge is a waterfall and scenic spot near Woodville in the Tararua district, rated 4.5 from 13 Google reviews — a quiet rural drawcard rather than a staffed attraction. Waterfalls live and die by the weather: a fall that trickles over mossy rock in a dry summer can thunder after a week of rain, so it is worth checking recent conditions before you set out. High flows make the best spectacle but also swell the pools and currents below the drop, and wet rock near the lip is slippery at any time of year, so sturdy shoes and a little caution go a long way. Photographers often prefer an overcast day, when mist and soft light bring out the water without glare. Set in the green hill country around Woodville, Ballance Bridge makes an easy, worthwhile stop for anyone travelling through Tararua.