Otuihau Whangarei Falls
AH Reed Memorial Park
Your Nature Guide
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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Information
Otuihau Whangarei Falls
1 km return | 30 minutes return
Early resident of Whangarei used to visit the 26-m falls for a picnic, a pastime that is still popular today.
Walking Track
Timing
When the water level is low, a concrete track over the river at the top of the falls is exposed. This enables the loop to be completed. If the concrete is covered by water then the river level is too high and you must return by the same track.
Access
From Whangarei follow Bank Street and Mill Road to Tikipunga and turn right into Kiripaka Road. The falls are signposted 500 metres further on the right.
There are toilets and a picnic area by the carpark.
Track
The metalled track snakes from the viewing platforms at the top of the falls, through native forest to a footbridge over the Hatea River at the base of the falls. A climb to the eastern side of the river leads to another viewing platform.
When the water level is low, a concrete track over the river at the top of the falls is exposed. This enables the loop to be completed. If the concrete is covered by water then the river level is too high and you must return by the same track.
Geology
The Whangarei Falls are 26-metres-high and cascade in a frothing maelstrom over a solidified basalt lava flow, thought to be around 2.5 million years old.
European History
This park is named after A H Reed, a well-known New Zealand author, publisher and long distance walker. The site of his parents homestead is on the opposite side of Clapham Road from the upper car park. A H Reed was a significant player in protecting the falls from quarrying and retaining the kauri trees in the forest.
Details
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Organisation |
Whangarei District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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4.0/5
Nice area, don't swim: new signage encourages you away from toxic bird effluent.
Otherwise a grand view from bridge and picnic area, makes a great screensaver.
24 hour toilet and limited self-contained camping.
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4.5/5
Beautiful waterfall where you can also swim, if you are brave - the water is quite cold.
The walk to go here is great as well. Lots of forest and a river.
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4.0/5
Impressive and well organised walk although signs were occasionally a bit sketchy.
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4.5/5
Beautiful walk - around 7km from the city.
You can have a nice swim (cold) by the falls.
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3.0/5
Beautiful spot, not only the falls but also some little walks around it including Kauri trees.
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4.0/5
Nice area, don't swim: new signage encourages you away from toxic bird effluent.
Otherwise a grand view from bridge and picnic area, makes a great screensaver.
24 hour toilet and limited self-contained camping.
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4.5/5
Beautiful waterfall where you can also swim, if you are brave - the water is quite cold.
The walk to go here is great as well. Lots of forest and a river.
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4.0/5
Impressive and well organised walk although signs were occasionally a bit sketchy.
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4.5/5
Beautiful walk - around 7km from the city.
You can have a nice swim (cold) by the falls.
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3.5/5
You don't have to walk to see the falls but a few minutes to go on to the bottom.
Lovely place but it could be overcrowded sometimes!
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4.0/5
Walk from town was long and a bit rainy but great.
Despite the section you have to walk on the road, I could not fault it.
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4.0/5
This waterfall is so cool!
There is a great walk through the jungle directly next to the river and at the end comes the waterfall.
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4.0/5
Beautiful spot for relaxing, swimming or just for watching the Falls!
The water is a little bit dirty, or either a little bit green, but nice anyway!
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4.0/5
Although the falls are cool, but not too spectacular, we can highly recommend the falls.
Locals volunteer to answer all kinds of questions.
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3.0/5
Beautiful spot, not only the falls but also some little walks around it including Kauri trees.
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4.0/5
Beautiful walk from the waterfall along the river to the kauri tree museum.
It is free.
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4.0/5
A beautiful waterfall and a little walk around it.
It was just a little stop on our way but it was worth to just turn off for the experience.
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4.0/5
Nice falls.
Great you can have a look from both sides, below AND the top. The first waterfall I saw where you can stand at the top and see it flowing and falling down.
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5.0/5
The opportunity to be beside, underneath such a large/ majestic waterfall, feeling like you have nature wrapped around you when in reality urban sprawl is within meters is SO AMAZING
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5.0/5
Next to the YHA hostel, a beautiful walk in the middle of the glowworms, surrounded by the fall's sounds.
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5.0/5
Nice kauri tree, beautiful waterfall, nice forest walk, all free :-), not too long, not too short, nice nice.
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