Your Epic Guide to the Best Waterfalls, New Zealand: Tāranaki Edition

Here is the sixth edition of my epic guide to the best waterfalls in New Zealand – specifically written for the Tāranaki region. Here are ten lovely waterfalls in Tāranaki, and with all the details you need to know about them. Enjoy!

Northern Tāranaki

Northern Tāranaki is shrouded in forest and has some pretty rugged west coast beaches, too. This curve of the North Island is referred to as the North Tāranaki Bight, and it leads out to the island’s westernmost tip, Cape Egmont.

1. Te Rerepahupahu Falls

General Location: Te Rerepahupahu Falls sit in the north of the Tāranaki Region, in the Waitaanga Conservation Area. To be technical, it is just on the Manawatu-Whanganui side of the border, but I’ve grouped it with these other two Tāranaki waterfalls that are in the same area.

Nearest Civilisation: The nearest town of any significant size is Taumarunui. The trailheads for the two tracks to the Falls are an hour and a half’s driving away, between 69 and 79 kilometres away from town (43 and 49 miles, respectively). Immediate Surroundings: Te Rerepahupahu Falls sit near the Tangarakau River, on the Waitaanga Stream.

Waterfall Height: Te Rerepahupahu Falls are 60 metres tall. Waterfall Viewpoints: You’ll be able to view Te Rerepahupahu Falls from the bottom. Waterfall Name: I believe the Falls were named this as it mimicked the sound of the water falling.

Getting There: You can take the Mount Damper to Rerepahupahu Falls Track, or the shorter Waitaanga South Road to Te Rerepahupahu Falls Track. Track Distance: Mount Damper to Te Rerepahupahu Falls Track is 14 kilometres (8.6 miles) – one way. The other track, Waitaanga South Road to Te Rerepahupahu Falls Track is 10 kilometres (6 miles), one way. Both are rated advanced.

Walk Time: The Mount Damper to Te Rerepahupahu Falls Track is seven and a half to nine hours long. The Waitaanga South Road to Te Rerepahupahu Falls Track will take you four and a half hours. Swimming: There is a big pool at Te Rerepahupahu Falls and the Falls aren’t too powerful.

Dogs: Dogs will need a permit for the shorter track and are not allowed on the longer track. Wheelchairs and Prams: The advanced terrain to Te Rerepahupahu Falls is not suited for wheelchairs and prams.

Go, Because: Go, because the track to Te Rerepahupahu Falls from Waitaanga Road South will take you down an old tramline and over lots of bridges. You’ll probably need to do an overnighter and stay the night at the hut by the Falls. Something Extra: If you are seeing Mount Damper Falls next, you could walk there, on the Mount Damper to Te Rerepahupahu Falls Track! Last Updated: October, 2024.

2. Mount Damper Falls

General Location: Mount Damper Falls sits in one of the forests of North Tāranaki, just on the regional border.

Nearest Civilisation: Because Mount Damper Falls is off the Forgotten World Highway, the nearest town would be Taumarunui (an hour and a half’s drive away – 82 kilometres, 51 miles). Another nearby place, albeit a smaller one, is the republic of Whangamōmona (yes, you read that right! The little town deemed themselves a republic in 1989 and has its own flag and passport stamp, available from the pub!!). Whangamōmona is a three quarters of an hour drive away (36 kilometres, or 22 miles).

Immediate Surroundings: Mount Damper Falls sits on Mount Damper Stream, which comes off the Tongaporutu River. Waterfall Height: Mount Damper Falls is 74 metres tall. Waterfall Viewpoints: There are two platforms from which you can view Mount Damper Falls.

Getting There: The quickest way to Mount Damper Falls is to take the Mount Damper Falls Walk. You can’t go in August, September or October, however, because hunters use the track. Don’t confuse it with the Mount Damper Track – which is hours longer!

Track Distance: It’s a kilometre (half a mile) to Mount Damper Falls and back. Walk Time: Allow a half hour to go to Mount Damper Falls and back. Swimming: There is no safe way to the bottom of the Falls for swimming access.

Dogs: Dogs need a permit from the Department of Conservation to be at Mount Damper Falls. Wheelchairs and Prams: The bridge, stile and farmland terrain make Mount Damper Falls Walk unsuitable for wheelchairs and prams. Go, Because: Go, because this is one of the tallest waterfalls in the North Island.

Something Extra: Mount Damper Falls is off the Forgotten World Highway (State Highway 43), so rather than come back the way you came, why not continue and drive the full thing? It’s a really scenic route and our oldest heritage trail; it was built on colonial bridle paths. Last Updated: October, 2024.

3. Rerekapa Falls

General Location: Rerekapa Falls is a third waterfall in the forests in the north of the Tāranaki Region. Nearest Civilisation: Taumarunui would be the closest town of any significant size, but it’s an hour and a half’s drive away (75 kilometres, or 47 miles). Alternatively there is the Republic of Whangamōmona (you can even stamp your passport at the pub!), which is a half hour drive away (29 kilometres, or 18 miles).

Immediate Surroundings: Rerekapa Falls is within the Moki Forest. Waterfall Height: Rerekapa Falls is 10 metres tall. Waterfall Viewpoints: You’ll see Rerekapa Falls at the end of the track and can go down to the base if you are careful.

Getting There: Take the Rerekapa Track to Rerekapa Falls. Track Distance: Rerekapa Track is 3.2 kilometres (2 miles). Walk Time: The Rerekapa Track is an hour and a half return.

Swimming: Rerekapa Falls has a large pool at the base. Dogs: Dogs need a Department of Conservation permit to be in the area. Wheelchairs and Prams: I have not read anything to indicate that the Rerekapa Track is accessible for wheelchairs and prams.

Go, Because: Go, because it’s easy, it’s free, and it’s just off the Forgotten World Highway. Something Extra: Go and get your passport stamped in the republic of Whangamōmona! Last Updated: October, 2024.

New Plymouth

New Plymouth is a small city, but the only one in the Tāranaki Region. It’s a beautiful spot with beaches, parks, and close access to the mountain. There is one waterfall in the city, and it’s Pukekura Falls.

4. Pukekura Falls, Pukekura Park

General Location: Pukekura Falls is located within Pukekura Park, bang in the middle of the city of New Plymouth, the hub of the region. Nearest Civilisation: It’s New Plymouth! The 52 hectare park is in the city centre.

Immediate Surroundings: Pukekura Falls is a man made waterfall by Fountain Lake. The stream that already existed there influenced the decision to put the park there, as they dammed the stream to make space for the lake. Waterfall Height: Pukekura Falls is 12 metres tall.

Waterfall Viewpoints: Just the one! Waterfall Name: Pukekura was the name of the stream that they dammed to create the park. It means “red hill” in Maori.

Getting There: Take the walking loop around the park and it won’t be long before you see Pukekura Falls right in front of you! Track Distance: The full loop around the park is 4.5 kilometres (3 miles). Walk Time: It’s a ten minute walk before you see Pukekura Falls.

Swimming: You cannot swim in the park, even though the lake by the Falls was the city’s swimming spot in the 20th Century. Dogs: Dogs are allowed at Pukekura Park but need to be on a leash (and away from the fern garden, zoo, greenhouses and playgrounds). Wheelchairs and Prams: Most of Pukekura Park is wheelchair and pram accessible.

Go, Because: Go, because this is the only waterfall in New Plymouth, and because the park is an excellent half or full day activity. Something Extra: Time your visit over the latter half of December or the first few weeks of January and you’ll be around fo the TSB Festival of Lights – the country’s best light festival, which is within the park. Everything – including Pukekura Falls – gets lit up beautifully. Last Updated: October, 2024.

Egmont National Park

Egmont National Park is named for Mount Egmont, better known now as Mount Tāranaki. Mount Tāranaki is a dormant volcano directly in the centre of the Tāranaki Peninsula on the westernmost point of the North Island. It is perfectly conical and a perfect circle of bush surrounds it – I mean it when I say perfectly circle; it’s quite a cool view when you fly directly over the top.

It has an abundance of walks and can be accessed from North Egmont, West Egmont and East Egmont. North Egmont has North Egmont Visitor Centre, and is used as a start point for walks that go up into the Pouakai Ranges – to the hut, to the trig point, to the tarns, and also to the summit of Mount Tāranaki. East Egmont’s visitor centre is called Dawson Falls Visitor Centre and is a little further around the mountain – you’ll drive through the small towns of Inglewood and Stratford to get there, if you’re coming from the city of New Plymouth.

5. Mangakotukutuku Falls, Egmont National Park

General Location: Mangakotukutuku Falls are located in Egmont National Park, which surrounds Mount Egmont, or Mount Tāranaki, and is within the Pouakai Ranges. Nearest Civilisation: New Plymouth is a twenty minute drive away from Mangakotukutuku Falls (20 kilometres, 12 miles). Immediate Surroundings: Mangakotukutuku Falls is just on the northern edge of Egmont National Park – a perfect circle that surrounds the dormant volcano.

Waterfall Viewpoints: There’s a couple of angles you can see Mangakotukutuku Falls from. Getting There: To get to Mangakotukutuku Falls, take the Maude Track. Track Distance: The Maude Track is 2.8 kilometres (1.7 miles), one way.

Walk Time: Give yourself three hours for the return trip to Mangakotukutuku Falls. Swimming: There is no real space for swimming at Mangakotukutuku Falls. Dogs: Dogs are not allowed at Mangakotukutuku Falls.

Wheelchairs and Prams: Maude Track is rated advanced and is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Go, Because: Go, because where the track turns off to the Falls, you’ll see an old Māori underground oven space (a hangi). Something Extra: Wait, if you have the luxury of time, for a heavy rain, as Mangakotukutuku Falls are better after a heavy rain. Last Updated: October, 2024.

6. Bells Falls, Egmont National Park

General Location: Bells Falls are located within the Egmont National Park, whose namesake is the conical Mount Egmont (or Mount Tāranaki). Nearest Civilisation: It’s half an hour between New Plymouth and Bells Falls, 28 kilometres, 17 miles). Immediate Surroundings: Bells Falls are part of Stony River, in the Pouākai Ranges.

Waterfall Height: Bells Falls is 31 metres tall. Waterfall Viewpoints: There’s the first view of Bells Falls, and the option to get a bit closer for a second view, too. Waterfall Name: The Māori name for Bells Falls is Te Rere o Tahurangi.

Getting There: You can take the Around the Mountain Loop to Bells Falls and see them on day two of five, or you can do the Pouākai Circuit and see Bells Falls on day two of three. Track Distance: From the trailhead of the Pouākai Circuit to Holly Hut, (which is ten minutes from the Falls), it’s 9.2 kilometres (6 miles). From the trailhead of the Around the Mountain Loop to Holly Hut, it’s 13 kilometres (8 miles).

Walk Time: Firstly, let me preface this with whichever track you’re walking, Bells Falls is ten minutes walk once you get to Holly Hut. Between the Pouākai Circuit trailhead and Holly Hut it is four hours of walking. Between the Around the Mountain Loop trailhead and Holly Hut it is nine hours of walking.

Swimming: We swam at Bells Falls! Brace yourself for the cold! Dogs: Dogs are not allowed in the Pouākai Ranges.

Wheelchairs and Prams: Bells Falls is accessed via a multiday hike so is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Go, Because: Go, because this would be the best waterfall in Egmont National Park.

Something Extra: A lot of people climb up into the Pouākai Ranges for a photo of the Pouākai Tarns – on a clear day, you can see a perfect reflection of Mount Tāranaki in the tarns (there’s two; a tarn is a small mountain lake) near Pouākai Hut and they are an incredible spot for photos. Make sure to stop here! (You likely already will be.. ) Last Updated: October, 2024.

7. Brames Falls, Egmont National Park

General Location: Brames Falls are in the shadow of Mount Egmont, or Mount Tāranaki, which is the dominant feature of the national park. These Falls are on the western side of the volcano, diagonally opposite to Bells Falls. Nearest Civilisation: If you’re walking around the mountain from North Egmont, the North Egmont trailheads are half an hour from the city of New Plymouth – 28 kilometres, or 17 miles. It’s not a lot further if you’re starting on the western side.

Immediate Surroundings: Brames Falls is on the Waiaua River, on the western face of Mount Egmont or Mount Tāranaki. Waterfall Viewpoints: The lookout over Brames Falls is from a distance.

Getting There: One way you can get to Brames Falls without doing the five day loop around the mountain is to take the Ihaia Track from West Egmont and head toward the Waiaua Gorge Hut. Brames Falls is a side trip off that track (on the Brames Falls Track).

Track Distance: The Ihaia Track to Waiaua Gorge Hut is 6 kilometres and the side trip to the Falls nearly doubles that. It’s the same back down again, so a full day.

Walk Time: To Waiaua Gorge Hut, it’s about three hours walk, and then you can add on a fourth hour to Brames Falls. It’s four hours back down again (you can stay at Waiaua Gorge Hut if you want to make it into an overnighter). Swimming: You cannot get close enough to Brames Falls to swim.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed at Brames Falls. Wheelchairs and Prams: You have to climb down a ladder to get to the Brames Falls lookout! It is not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.

Go, Because: Go, because this side of the mountain is less visited, being the opposite side to the Pouākai Ranges and famous Pouākai Tarns, but it’s worth exploring, too!

Something Extra: While you’re out on the western side of the volcano, go and visit Cape Egmont and see the lighthouse. There’s an inner ring road around the mountain, and an outer ring road around the Tāranaki Peninsula, but you can cut between the rings on smaller, lesser-used roads, to get out to the cape. Grab a shot looking back at the mountain with the lighthouse in the foreground. Last Updated: October, 2024.

8. Dawson Falls / Te Rere-o-Noke, Egmont National Park

General Location: Dawson Falls are also located in Egmont National Park, underneath the mighty Mount Tāranaki. They are sort of in the four o clock position, if you are looking at the perfectly circular mountain side as a clock.

Nearest Civilisation: Because you have to drive down below the mountain before doubling back up into the park, the drive from the city of New Plymouth is an hour (62 kilometres, 39 miles). Stratford is actually closer due to its position, which is a tiny little town, half an hour out (23 kilometres, 14 miles). Immediate Surroundings: Dawson Falls sits on the Kapuni Stream.

Waterfall Height: Dawson Falls is 18 metres tall. Waterfall Viewpoints: You can take some steps down to the bottom of the Falls to see Dawson Falls from the base, or from further back, at the lookout.

Waterfall Name: Dawson Falls are named for Thomas Dawson who was the first European to discovered this waterfall. The Maori name, Te Rere o Noke, means the Falls of Noke. Noke was a warrior and he hid behind the Falls to escape from those chasing him.

Getting There: Not to be confused with the North Egmont Visitor Centre where many trails do start from, the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre is a different one and is further around the mountain, in that four o clock position. You’ll take the path from Dawson Falls Visitor Centre down onto the Kapuni Loop Track and follow the signs from there. Track Distance: It’s 500 metres to Dawson Falls, and the same back again.

Walk Time: It’s a two minute return walk to see Dawson Falls. Some people may take a few minutes longer. Swimming: There’s not heaps of space to swim at Dawson Falls, so Wilkies Pools are a better alternative for swimming.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed at Dawson Falls. Wheelchairs and Prams: The steps make the path to Dawson Falls unsuitable for wheelchairs and prams. An alternative track is the one to Wilkies Pools, which is close by, and very accessible.

Go, Because: Go, because Dawson Falls is incredibly pretty and the drive there is a scenic one up the foothills. Something Extra: This part of the national park is called East Egmont and there are heaps more walks here for you to discover – including the Goblin Forest. The kāmahi trees have all these wonky branches that have moss draping over them and this is why it is called the Goblin Forest. Last Updated: October, 2024.

9. Wilkies Pools, Egmont National Park

General Location: Wilkies Pools are situated near Dawson Falls, in the south eastern area of Egmont National Park, which occupies the westernmost part of the North Island, the Tāranaki Peninsula. Nearest Civilisation: You have to drive south past the mountain before backtracking north into the national park, so the drive from the city of New Plymouth is an hour (62 kilometres, 39 miles). Stratford is technically closer due to its location, and is half an hour out (23 kilometres, 14 miles).

Immediate Surroundings: Wilkies Pools flow out of the Kapuni Stream. They are a series of pools that have little cascades flowing between them. Waterfall Height: Wilkies Pools have a few little plunge pools and small cascades flow between them all.

Waterfall Viewpoints: You can view the pools from the track or scramble a little closer to get right under them – or into them. Waterfall Name: Wilkies Pools are named for the Wilkies brothers (F.W. Wilkie and W.J. Wilkie), who were local farmers at one point on nearby Manaia Road. Getting There: To get to Wilkies Pools walk the Wilkies Pools Loop Track.

Track Distance: The Wilkies Pools Loop Tack is 2 kilometres, or 1.2 miles. Walk Time: It’ll take you an hour twenty to walk the Wilkies Pools Loop Track. Swimming: Wilkies Pools and the little waterfalls there is a great spot for swimming, if you can brave the cold.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed at Wilkies Pools. Wheelchairs and Prams: The path to Wilkies Pools are boardwalks and generally wheelchair and pram friendly. Go clockwise around the loop (ie, turn left where it splits) to the pools, and backtrack the way you came, as this side of the track is better for wheels than the rest. The other side has steps.

Go, Because: Go, because Wilkies Pools are series of little blue pools, amazing in colour, and what with Mount Tāranaki in the background, is a phenomenal spot. Something Extra: Your something extra is to make sure you have your swimwear and take the icy plunge! Last Updated: October, 2024.

10. Curtis Falls, Egmont National Park

General Location: Curtis Falls is within the perfectly circular Egmont National Park, quite close to the North Egmont Visitor Centre (in the three o clock position!). The national park surrounds its namesake Mount Egmont, or Mount Tāranaki, out on the westernmost tip of the North Island. Nearest Civilisation: Because of the way you will need to drive in, from New Plymouth it’s an hour’s drive to Curtis Falls, 58 kilometres, or 36 miles).

Immediate Surroundings: Curtis Falls is within the gorge of the Manganui River. Waterfall Height: Curtis Falls is 15 metres tall. Waterfall Viewpoints: Just the one!

Getting There: You’ll take the Curtis Falls Track to Curtis Falls. After you’ve reached the river, you follow the riverbed to the Falls, as there is no track as such after this. Track Distance: The walk is 2 kilometres, or 1.3 miles.

Walk Time: It’s a two or three hour return walk to and from Curtis Falls. Swimming: There is a shallow pool at Curtis Falls for swimming. Dogs: Dogs are not allowed at Curtis Falls.

Wheelchairs and Prams: This track is advanced and not one for wheelchairs and prams. Go, Because: Go, because you’ll discover a special little waterfall that is less frequented compared to the others in the national park.

Something Extra: Check out the little town of Stratford after you’re done – you’re not far away. There’s a heritage trail, a little historical pioneer village, and little glockenspiel clock tower that chimes at 1000h, 1300h, 1500h, and 1900h every day. Last Updated: October, 2024.

Whether you’re in the region for a day, a weekend, or a season, there’s a waterfall for you here to discover. Go, take in the beauty of the mountain, and get a little deeper into the heart of it all – into the forest, to fully appreciate one of these beautiful cascades.