Wainui Falls Track
Golden Bay
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
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I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
Wainui Falls Track
3.4 km return | 1 hour 20 minutes return
A thumping waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation
Walking Track
Timing
If you catch the falls after rain, they are more spectacular.
During the New Zealand summer holidays the track will be busier with local holidaymakers.
Access
From Takaka head along Abel Tasman Drive towards Totaranui. Just past Wainui Inlet turn right at the signpost into Wainui Falls Road and continue to the road end carpark.
Track
The track follows the Wainui River upstream through a ferny forest with nikau and some big rata.
Cross the suspension bridge shortly before the falls.
Geology
This is granite country, with huge granite boulders lining the river fally and strewn throughout the streambed. The intense rains and steep watersheds give some mighty floods and logs stack up in the valley.
Wainui Falls are around 20 metre high.
Flora
Northern rata and tree ferns make this a luxuriant forest.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Nelson/TasmanCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Waterfalls
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
2May24.
Sunny but a cool breeze.
A nice walk to what was today an impressive, noisy waterfall. Perhaps due to the rain last night.
Didn’t swim anywhere so no opinion on that but we enjoyed the walk and the waterfall. DoC says 40 mins each way but that is if you dawdle along.
There are a couple of benches along the walk. It was peaceful just taking in the surroundings.
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5.0/5
A must do walk in Golden Bay.
Even in the heat of Summer the river’s water is chill. Take your togs to fully enjoy one of the many swimming holes. Or jump in at the falls themselves.
After heavy rain the falls are impressive.
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4.5/5
Great waterfall, easy walk including a nice swing bridge, 1 hour return, perfect light when the sun goes down.
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5.0/5
A very good and easy walk to the Wainui Falls.
This waterfall is large and impressive, you can even sit in the pools in front of this waterfall. It took us about 1 hour return for this walk. You walk along a river and over bridges and have many good photo opportunities. There is a parking space and a toilet at the beginning of the walk. It is very well signposted!
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4.5/5
Great walk if you are up that way, as it is quite a drive out there.
Well maintained walkway and we got to see some eels swimming in the river.
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4.5/5
Beautiful walk through the rainforest.
Easy, with a huge waterfall at the end, where you can swim. Definitely worth it!
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4.0/5
Very nice falls and good track.
Took a swim in the ice cold water next to the waterfall. Didymo is there - other than that, a thumbs up!
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5.0/5
2May24.
Sunny but a cool breeze.
A nice walk to what was today an impressive, noisy waterfall. Perhaps due to the rain last night.
Didn’t swim anywhere so no opinion on that but we enjoyed the walk and the waterfall. DoC says 40 mins each way but that is if you dawdle along.
There are a couple of benches along the walk. It was peaceful just taking in the surroundings.
-
5.0/5
A must do walk in Golden Bay.
Even in the heat of Summer the river’s water is chill. Take your togs to fully enjoy one of the many swimming holes. Or jump in at the falls themselves.
After heavy rain the falls are impressive.
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4.5/5
Great waterfall, easy walk including a nice swing bridge, 1 hour return, perfect light when the sun goes down.
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5.0/5
A very good and easy walk to the Wainui Falls.
This waterfall is large and impressive, you can even sit in the pools in front of this waterfall. It took us about 1 hour return for this walk. You walk along a river and over bridges and have many good photo opportunities. There is a parking space and a toilet at the beginning of the walk. It is very well signposted!
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4.5/5
Great walk if you are up that way, as it is quite a drive out there.
Well maintained walkway and we got to see some eels swimming in the river.
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4.5/5
Beautiful walk through the rainforest.
Easy, with a huge waterfall at the end, where you can swim. Definitely worth it!
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4.0/5
Very nice falls and good track.
Took a swim in the ice cold water next to the waterfall. Didymo is there - other than that, a thumbs up!
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3.0/5
Nice walk, very busy which lowered our experience.
If more time and you are more alone then great. Definitely take your swimmers. Would enhance the experience. Nice walk with average waterfalls. But nice to do.
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5.0/5
Well crafted track with wonderful river and waterfall views.
Swing bridge and waterfalls add sense of adventure.
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4.0/5
Short walk with easy parking.
Only a 40 minute walk upstream to an amazing powerful waterfall. The river walk gets better and better as you go.
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5.0/5
Walk next to the river and crossing the river over a bridge.
Ends at the big beautiful waterfall with a big basin to have a swim. Nice place to rest a while.
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4.0/5
Nice walk and in the end you will find the beautiful waterfall.
Cold water but nice for a swim if you are brave enough.
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5.0/5
Just 30 minutes walk through native bush will lead you to an amazing waterfall with the possibility to have a shower.
Enjoy natural swimming there.
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4.5/5
Perfect walk, nice waterfall at the end.
Funny swing bridge but a little bit dangerous.
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4.5/5
Short walking track up to a beautiful waterfall surrounded by forest.
At the bottom of the waterfall there is a great swimming hole.
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5.0/5
Excellent walking track (no stairs and not paved, very natural).
Very cool swinging bridge and a beautiful waterfall with swimming hole at the end. Well worth the walk.
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4.0/5
A 40 minute adventure walk to some beautiful waterfalls.
Track not for the faint hearted. We loved it, falls well worth the visit.
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3.5/5
Short track along a nice river.
The falls are great but the water is too cold to go swimming.
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5.0/5
Cool walk, swingbridge, level is medium to hard, not for kids, big falls, fresh water and not too long......
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