Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
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!
Author Marios Gavalas, Rankers and hundreds of contributors bring you a free web map to help you get lost (and find yourself) in Aotearoa's nature.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Whangarei District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Whangarei |
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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? From 500m to 1km |
Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 10 to 30mins |
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. |
Disabled Access |
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Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs. |
Crowd Factor |
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Crowd FactorHow 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. More popular with locals on the weekends. |
One of our first walks in New Zealand.
Spectacular falls in a beautiful location.
A nice big waterfall.
Nice spot, nice animals.
Nice falls.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 4 |
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11% |
9/10 | 9 |
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25% |
8/10 | 15 |
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42% |
7/10 | 5 |
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14% |
6/10 | 3 |
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8% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
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.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Amazing waterfalls, walk down the river to the native bush canopy bridge!
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
4.0/5
Impressive and well organised walk although signs were occasionally a bit sketchy.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Not that interesting but a nice spot for chilling and relaxing!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
3.5/5
Nice spot, nice animals.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.0/5
A lot of helpful information, bit muddy in some spots but nice and peaceful.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Beautiful walk - around 7km from the city.
You can have a nice swim (cold) by the falls.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Great waterfall.
Crazy guys were jumping from a tree down in the water.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
One of our first walks in New Zealand.
We would not change a thing here!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
3.0/5
Beautiful spot, not only the falls but also some little walks around it including Kauri trees.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015
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.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
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.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Amazing waterfalls, walk down the river to the native bush canopy bridge!
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
5.0/5
One of our first walks in New Zealand.
We would not change a thing here!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
A lot of helpful information, bit muddy in some spots but nice and peaceful.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.0/5
Impressive and well organised walk although signs were occasionally a bit sketchy.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Not that interesting but a nice spot for chilling and relaxing!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
3.5/5
Nice spot, nice animals.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Great waterfall.
Crazy guys were jumping from a tree down in the water.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Beautiful walk - around 7km from the city.
You can have a nice swim (cold) by the falls.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
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.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
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.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
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!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
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.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
3.0/5
Beautiful spot, not only the falls but also some little walks around it including Kauri trees.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015
4.0/5
A nice big waterfall.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
4.0/5
Beautiful walk from the waterfall along the river to the kauri tree museum.
It is free.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
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.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
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.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.0/5
Beautiful tracks and park around the waterfall.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
4.0/5
Beautiful track with stunning surroundings.
Beautiful area.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
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
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
5.0/5
Next to the YHA hostel, a beautiful walk in the middle of the glowworms, surrounded by the fall's sounds.
Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
5.0/5
Nice kauri tree, beautiful waterfall, nice forest walk, all free :-), not too long, not too short, nice nice.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
4.0/5
Nice track, beautiful lookout on the falls.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2011