Whāngarei Falls is a stunning waterfall and easily one of the best to visit in Northland.
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It’s also easy to reach from Whāngarei and only requires a short walk. If you’re traveling North be sure to add this spot to your list. All details you need to know are below.
LOCATION AND PARKING
The falls are located just a few minutes drive north of Whāngarei city centre. However if you’re coming from Auckland, its just over two hours (165km).
In terms of parking, Whāngarei Falls has as a designated parking lot. Parking spaces are a little limited but whenever I have visited there has always been more than one park available.
WHĀNGAREI FALLS VIEWPOINTS
Whāngarei Falls sits at 26 meters high and can be viewed from several different points.
Once you park up you’ll notice that there is a lookout a mere two minute walk from the carpark. However my favourite view is at the base of the falls. I would highly suggest to do the short walk down to the bottom as there are views along the way, along with a pretty outlook from the bridge below. There is also an option to walk to the waters edge.
There is plenty of space here to sit amongst the trees and enjoy the falls, too so my suggestion would be to take a picnic and spend a little time enjoying the scenery.
WHĀNGAREI FALLS LOOP TRACK
To get to the base of the falls from the carpark, you will follow the well-maintained track that winds through the surrounding bush. There are two tracks to choose from but the one that is most popular is the short loop track.
KEY INSIGHTS
Duration: 15 minutes
Length: 1 km | 0.6 miles
Elevation: 19m
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Loop
Open: Year-round
WHĀNGAREI FALLS HATEA WALKWAY TRACK
If you’d like to extend your walk there is also the option to go through the Whāngarei Falls Scenic Reserve. This is the same loop as above but also adds Hātea Walkway which is a there and back track to Whareroa Road and A.H Reed Memorial Kauri Park.
KEY INSIGHTS
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Length: 4.8 km | 3 miles
Elevation: 145m
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Loop + There and Back
Open: Year-round
WHĀNGAREI FALLS ACCOMMODATION
Whāngarei provides plenty of options for places if you’re wanting to stay longer than a day.
In the past I’ve stayed a little out of town centre in Whāngarei Heads and Pataua South to make the most of the other great destinations in the area like Mount Manaia and the beach.
Even though there are some great options on booking.com I believe that AirBnB have some more unique and comfortable choices.
NORTHLAND
Northland boasts some of my favourite places to see and experience in the North Island, and it’s also rich in New Zealand history. If photography, walks, or hikes are your passion, and exploring Northland is on your bucket list, I have a few posts that might be helpful..
There are so many beautiful beaches but Tauranga Bay deserves a mention, it’s also close to St Pauls Rock if you’re looking for a beautiful sunset or sunrise spot. For those seeking more active adventures, hiking Cape Brett or Dukes Nose are both great choices and deserve a mention too.
Additionally for all other places that are a Northland must-do I have the perfect list here.
In this post, we explored the stunning Whāngarei Falls, one of the best waterfalls to visit in Northland. From its easy accessibility and scenic viewpoints to the enjoyable loop track and nearby accommodations, Whāngarei Falls offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and convenience. Make sure to add this picturesque spot to your Northland itinerary!