Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
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200 m return | 5 minutes return
A pretty waterfall beside the Haast River. The schist beach has become a monument to rock stacks. The flat, smooth, easily stacked rocks are placed into towers and sculptures by passing travellers. Only to be demolished by other travellers or the next flood.
Not a place to visit in flood.
Fantail Falls are well signposted 4.8 km from the Gates of Haast and 3.7 km from Haast Pass.
The concrete track nips into the beech forest then descends to the schist beach opposite the falls.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Haast |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? Up to 500m |
Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? Up to 10 minutes |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan 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 |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. There may be steps or slopes. Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness. Stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required. |
Disabled Access |
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Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? Disabled access provided This location provides access for wheelchairs. although not to the beach |
Crowd Factor |
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Crowd FactorHow crowded is this place usually? Popular This place is often popular with other travellers. |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Very pleasant walk.
1 of our favourite spots to stop in Haast Pass.
Skippable.
Great for kids, only 5 mins
Magical spot.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 3 |
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20% |
9/10 | 5 |
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33% |
8/10 | 4 |
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27% |
7/10 | 2 |
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13% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 1 |
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7% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2.0/5
Skippable.
Not impressive. Maybe after heavy rain or nice when your not able to get off the main roads. I do not get al the 10 ratings. There are so many better falls or scenery to be found all around NZ.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
5.0/5
Lovely place to stop off when driving through Haast pass.
My partner climber all the way up the waterfall (he told me it was very cold!) and found lots of place to explore. Clear blue water, looks incredible. Lots of rock stacks, unsure of their symbolism. A really lovely place to be for a rest.
Reviewed over 6 years ago and experienced in March 2018
5.0/5
1 of our favourite spots to stop in Haast Pass.
If you camp in the area you can avoid the midday tourist hordes who stop for a quick look. Hang around a while, explore up and down the riverbanks and attempt your own rock stack. Some fun/challenging canyons to explore nearby - if you're in the know. Fun place to photograph at different times of the day. The river can be crossed - go barefoot or wet shoes...don't lose your jandals! The pool at the base is nice for a dip. The track to the left of the falls leads up to some reasonably easy to navigate ledges - don't bring grandma or baby...but enjoy the adventure and the photo ops!
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
4.0/5
Great and short walk, nice photo location.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
4.5/5
Close to the river, short walk, clean.
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Magical spot.
Free. Swimming for the brave. Beautiful river and surrounded by New Zealand native bush.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
3.5/5
we stopped and had lunch here - only a 5 min walk to the falls.
Beautiful scenery by the river and waterfall, however take bug spray as infested with sandflies.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.5/5
A lovely little waterfall right off the road.
But what is even more intriguing are the rock piles that have been made by visitors, make your own!!
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
5.0/5
Hard but amazing, great waterfall, for wheelchairs.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.5/5
Different things to see within a small time to see them.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
2.0/5
Skippable.
Not impressive. Maybe after heavy rain or nice when your not able to get off the main roads. I do not get al the 10 ratings. There are so many better falls or scenery to be found all around NZ.
Reviewed over 5 years ago
5.0/5
Lovely place to stop off when driving through Haast pass.
My partner climber all the way up the waterfall (he told me it was very cold!) and found lots of place to explore. Clear blue water, looks incredible. Lots of rock stacks, unsure of their symbolism. A really lovely place to be for a rest.
Reviewed over 6 years ago and experienced in March 2018
5.0/5
1 of our favourite spots to stop in Haast Pass.
If you camp in the area you can avoid the midday tourist hordes who stop for a quick look. Hang around a while, explore up and down the riverbanks and attempt your own rock stack. Some fun/challenging canyons to explore nearby - if you're in the know. Fun place to photograph at different times of the day. The river can be crossed - go barefoot or wet shoes...don't lose your jandals! The pool at the base is nice for a dip. The track to the left of the falls leads up to some reasonably easy to navigate ledges - don't bring grandma or baby...but enjoy the adventure and the photo ops!
Reviewed almost 7 years ago
4.0/5
Great and short walk, nice photo location.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
4.5/5
Close to the river, short walk, clean.
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Magical spot.
Free. Swimming for the brave. Beautiful river and surrounded by New Zealand native bush.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
3.5/5
we stopped and had lunch here - only a 5 min walk to the falls.
Beautiful scenery by the river and waterfall, however take bug spray as infested with sandflies.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
4.5/5
A lovely little waterfall right off the road.
But what is even more intriguing are the rock piles that have been made by visitors, make your own!!
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
5.0/5
Hard but amazing, great waterfall, for wheelchairs.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.5/5
Different things to see within a small time to see them.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.5/5
Fantail Falls is nice, however, explore the hidden canyon just 100m downstream...a-ha, then you're in for a full adventure.
NEAT!
Reviewed almost 13 years ago
4.0/5
Worth a stop.
Lovely forested walks. Easily accessed by all.
Reviewed over 13 years ago
4.0/5
Great for kids, only 5 mins
Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in January 2010
4.5/5
Another nice, short walk to a waterfall.
This one was actually less crowded than the Thunder Creek Falls, so that was nice.
Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009