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Thunder Creek Falls

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Thunder Creek Falls

Haast Pass

84%
Analysis

15 Rankers Reviews

9 Face-to-Face

12 Haast

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Marios Gavalas's avatar

Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

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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Haast, West Coast

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Photos

Stoked! - Thunder Creek Falls

John

Stoked! - Thunder Creek Falls

John

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A panoramic view of the falls

John

A panoramic view of the falls

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Information

Thunder Creek Falls

200 m return | 5 minutes return

A thundering creek falling to the Haast River. Prosaic, these Westland names. This is the second in the trifecta of falls on the Haast Highway, also including Roaring Billy Falls and Fantail Falls.

This is a brief & beaut stop in Westland's Haast Pass. A wheelchair accessible few minutes through silver beech forest brings you to the 28m high Thunder Creek falls, most thunderous after a classic West Coast rainfall...

Walking Track

Access

The track is signposted on SH6 52 km from Haast Junction.

Track

The sealed track takes you to a viewpoint by the 28 metre high falls.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC West Coast

Central government organisation

Location

South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast

Categories
  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.0375655725407

169.366264343262

Latitude
-44.0375655725407
Longitude
169.366264343262
Feature Value Info

Track Length

  • Up to 500m

Track Length

What is the physical length of this track?

Up to 500m

Track Duration

  • Up to 10 minutes Up to 10 minutes

Track Duration

How long does it take to walk this track on average?

Up to 10 minutes

Up to 10 minutes

Track Difficulty

  • Easiest walk

Track Difficulty

Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete?

Easiest walk

Payment Requirement

  • Free access/participation Free access/participation

Payment Requirement

Is there a cost for this experience or is it free?

Free access/participation

Free access/participation

The experience costs no money to access or take part in.

Large Vehicle Access

  • Large vehicle accessible

Large Vehicle Access

Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access?

Large vehicle accessible

The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.

DOC Track Category

  • Easy access short walk Easy access short walk

DOC Track Category

What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)?

Easy access short walk

Easy access short walk

Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. Few or no steps or slopes. Suitable for people of all abilities and fitness. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required.

Disabled Access

  • Disabled access provided Disabled access provided

Disabled Access

Does this location provide disabled access?

Disabled access provided

Disabled access provided

This location provides access for wheelchairs.

Crowd Factor

  • Some people

Crowd Factor

How crowded is this place usually?

Some people

This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.

Track Managing Organisation

  • DOC Managed DOC Managed

Track Managing Organisation

What type of organisation operates this walking track?

DOC Managed

DOC Managed

This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.

Original

Nearby

Reviews

    • Yikes!
    • Lovely walk to falls and good waterfall.
    • Worth a stop.
    • A brief stopoff.
    • Lots of fun to do these short walks.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 4
    		27%
    9/10 5
    		33%
    8/10 3
    		20%
    7/10 0
    		0%
    6/10 2
    		13%
    5/10 0
    		0%
    4/10 1
    		7%
    3/10 0
    		0%
    2/10 0
    		0%
    1/10 0
    		0%

  • 4.0/5

    21Oct18.

    I agree with Katrina. A nice stop off with a good waterfall but not much else.

    Reviewed about 6 years ago

    Mike Fricker's avatar

    Mike Fricker

  • 3.0/5

    A brief stopoff.

    No more to explore - in, photo, out. Busy with tourists...average compared to the other gems in the area.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    Katrina's avatar

    Katrina

  • 4.5/5

    Close to the river, clean.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    GERMANY
    Christian Bobsu's avatar

    Christian Bobsu

  • 4.5/5

    Lovely walk to falls and good waterfall.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    AUSTRALIA
    Libby's avatar

    Libby

  • 3.0/5

    Short walk from the road to a nice waterfall, worth a picture.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    sidcupjon's avatar

    sidcupjon

  • 5.0/5

    Lots of fun to do these short walks.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

    CANADA
    Gillian Rowe's avatar

    Gillian Rowe

  • 5.0/5

    Just a few minutes walk to see an impressive waterfall, good parking nearby.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    jhwjhw's avatar

    jhwjhw

  • 4.0/5

    Worth a stop.

    Lovely forested walks. Easily accessed by all.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Gillian de Vries's avatar

    Gillian de Vries

  • 4.5/5

    Very convenient that you don't have to make a long walk to see this marvellous site.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jvjm Family's avatar

    Jvjm Family

  • 5.0/5

    lovely falls with nice scenery sit at the side of the road.

    Lovely!

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    kararina Kosten's avatar

    kararina Kosten

  • 4.5/5

    Easy trek to a wonderful waterfall that is right on the side of the road.

    A nice little stop off along the way.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009

    UNITED STATES
    Anna's avatar

    Anna

  • 4.0/5

    Spectacular with easy access.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in April 2009

    UNITED KINGDOM
    AndyEngland's avatar

    AndyEngland

  • 4.0/5

    21Oct18.

    I agree with Katrina. A nice stop off with a good waterfall but not much else.

    Reviewed about 6 years ago

    Mike Fricker's avatar

    Mike Fricker

  • 3.0/5

    A brief stopoff.

    No more to explore - in, photo, out. Busy with tourists...average compared to the other gems in the area.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    Katrina's avatar

    Katrina

  • 4.5/5

    Close to the river, clean.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    GERMANY
    Christian Bobsu's avatar

    Christian Bobsu

  • 4.5/5

    Lovely walk to falls and good waterfall.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    AUSTRALIA
    Libby's avatar

    Libby

  • 3.0/5

    Short walk from the road to a nice waterfall, worth a picture.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    sidcupjon's avatar

    sidcupjon

  • 5.0/5

    Lots of fun to do these short walks.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

    CANADA
    Gillian Rowe's avatar

    Gillian Rowe

  • 2.0/5

    Yikes!

    This waterfall is almost directly on the highway, making it a must-stop for EVERY tour bus over Haast Pass. What's the big deal...a nice waterfall spilling across an uncrossable river crowded with tourists. yuck. Now the waterfalls at Rob Roy glacier out of Wanaka...those are breathtaking!!

    Reviewed almost 13 years ago

    UNITED STATES
    Rachel_Flowers's avatar

    Rachel_Flowers

  • 5.0/5

    Just a few minutes walk to see an impressive waterfall, good parking nearby.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    jhwjhw's avatar

    jhwjhw

  • 4.0/5

    Worth a stop.

    Lovely forested walks. Easily accessed by all.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Gillian de Vries's avatar

    Gillian de Vries

  • 4.5/5

    Very convenient that you don't have to make a long walk to see this marvellous site.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Jvjm Family's avatar

    Jvjm Family

  • 4.0/5

    Spectacular with easy access.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in April 2009

    UNITED KINGDOM
    AndyEngland's avatar

    AndyEngland

  • 4.5/5

    Easy trek to a wonderful waterfall that is right on the side of the road.

    A nice little stop off along the way.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009

    UNITED STATES
    Anna's avatar

    Anna

  • 5.0/5

    lovely falls with nice scenery sit at the side of the road.

    Lovely!

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    kararina Kosten's avatar

    kararina Kosten