Wairere Falls is a spectacular waterfall located in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, between Te Aroha and Matamata, on the North Island of New Zealand. Standing at 153 metres tall, it is the highest waterfall in the North Island and one of the highest in the country.

Although the Wairere Falls is visible from a distance, the charm lies in hiking to either its lookout point or to the top of the falls. The falls are accessible via a well-maintained track, allowing visitors to experience the stunning views and natural beauty of the area.

With this guide, we want to share our experience of visiting Wairere Falls and what to expect on your hike to the lookout point.

How to visit Wairere Falls?

To embark on the journey to Wairere Falls, travellers can easily make their way from Hamilton, which is approximately 45 kilometres away. Simply hop on State Highway 29 and head southeast, enjoying the picturesque drive for about 45 minutes.

Similarly, visitors coming from Tauranga, situated approximately 53 kilometres to the north, can take State Highway 29 and travel southwest for around an hour.

Alternatively, Matamata (better known as the location for the Hobbiton Movie Set) and Te Aroha are only a short 15-minute or 20-minute drive away respectively, making it a convenient starting point for those staying in the immediate vicinity.

Our visit to Wairere Falls was planned more as a “hiking pit-stop” as we drove from Auckland to Tauranga (Mount Maunganui). It gave us a chance to not only stretch our legs but also admire this hidden gem!

Here’s a quick glimpse of our adventure to Wairere Falls.

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Starting point – Wairere Falls Track

Wairere Falls Track starts from Goodwin Road off Te Aroha-Okauia Road, south of Te Aroha.

The car park, which is the starting point, is located 800 metres off Old Te Aroha Road on Goodwin Road. Interestingly, the waterfalls are visible as you drive into the car park.

Securely park your car, put on your hiking boots, and prepare to set out on an incredible hike.

The Wairere Falls Hike

While deciding to hike to Wairere Falls, you have two options,

1. Hike to the Wairere Falls Lookout, or
2. Hike to the top of Wairere Falls

As we had limited time to complete our hike, we chose the former and hiked to the lookout and that’s what this guide will focus on.

The hike to the Wairere Falls Lookout is approximately 1.8 km one-way and can take around 45 to 60 minutes. We definitely recommend wearing proper hiking boots or shoes as the terrain is extremely rocky and slippery closer to the waterfall.

From the lookout, if you decide to continue to the summit of the falls, be prepared to hike for another 800 metres (approximately). Although that’s a short distance, it will take you the same amount of time (45 minutes) thanks to the very steep and rugged terrain that follows.

The hike to the falls is exhilarating, taking adventurers through a well-marked and maintained trail. The track stretches a little over 5 km round trip, winding through native forest and gradually ascending towards the viewing point or the top of the falls, depending on one’s preference.

With that, let us share our experience of the Wairere Falls Hike.

Car Park to the First Bridge

As with all our hikes, we prefer to divide them into sections, making it easier for us to convey the progression of the trail.

As you enter the Wairere Falls Track from the car park, you’re instantly pulled into the vibrant foliage and lush atmosphere that surrounds the waterfall.

The initial section of the Wairere Falls Track is quite easy, with a very gentle incline. The trail is mostly a dirt track with a few rocky sections.

Continue walking on the Wairere Falls Track for approximately 550 metres till the first bridge.

As the track runs along the stream, there are three wooden bridges that cross the stream at different points. Each bridge offers a stunning view of the stream and its cascades.

To the International Seat of Peace

Cross the bridge and continue walking on the Wairere Falls Track for another 250 metres till it briefly emerges from the shade, next to a grassy incline on the right-hand side.

On top of the incline are unique-looking benches dubbed the “International Seat of Peace”.

The benches overlook a beautiful 1,000-acre dairy farm run by the farmer responsible for these benches. You can read all about the International Seat of Peace in this short article while you admire the views from there.

You can either walk up the benches on your way to the waterfall or on your way back.

To the Second Bridge

The Wairere Falls Track becomes progressively more intense as it advances, with a consistent ascent starting after reaching the International Seat of Peace.

At this point, the track also returns to the shade in the forest area. Fortunately, the ascent along this section isn’t too challenging. It climbs at a moderate pace and the only indication that you’ve gained altitude is when you look down and see at the stream below.

The other characteristic about this section of the trail, that we didn’t appreciate till later, is that it’s a flat dirt track. Because that changes after the second bridge.

To the Third Bridge

After crossing the second bridge, the dirt track gives way to a rocky terrain that runs along the side of the hill.

The trail does become a bit more challenging to navigate but fortunately, there are wooden steps and paths laid down.

The undulating track crosses moss-covered rocks and tree roots as it continues to climb with scenic views of the stream.

Keep walking till you reach the third and final bridge, which is less than 200 metres from the second bridge.

The Final Ascent to The Lookout

A few short metres after crossing the final bridge, you’ll be greeted by a wooden platform with a stairway.

Gently follow the wooden steps to the top where the trail continues its uphill ascent.

Further ahead, the trail becomes very rocky and slippery. I imagine this is because of the proximity to the falls. So, be careful along this section of the trail.

Finally, keep your eyes peeled for a marker at an intersection of three trails. Above the marker are signs for the lookout and the top of the falls.

So, depending on where you’re headed, follow the sign.

Wairere Falls Lookout

As we were headed to the Wairere Falls Lookout, we walked in the direction of the lookout for about 50 metres where we were greeted with majestic views of Wairere Falls!

The lookout is a viewing platform with a wooden bench that offers a framed view, through the trees and branches to one of the most beautiful waterfalls that we’ve seen!

We were enthralled by the 153-metre plunge in two steps over the Kaimai escarpment, part of the Okauia fault line.

We sat at the lookout, enjoying a pudding that we’d bought at a weekend market earlier, for approximately 20 minutes, soaking in the views of North Island’s tallest waterfall!

The wind was so strong on the day we visited that it was blowing away all the water at the crest of the fall.

It was a blissful evening.

Continue to the top or return to the car park

Unfortunately, we had to make it to Mount Maunganui (where we had the Mauao Summit Walk waiting for us) before sun down which made us realise that we couldn’t hike to the top of the waterfall.

However, if you have the time and energy to continue hiking, follow the signs from the intersection to the “Top of falls”.

But to end the hike, simply trace your steps back to the car park. After the slippery, rocky section of the track, it shouldn’t take you much time to return to the starting point.

Our guide to the Wairere Falls Walk

We hope that you found our guide to the Wairere Falls Hike resourceful and that it gives you an idea of what to expect.

For those staying in Matamata, Wairere Falls is a fantastic option for a day hike if you’re looking for something to do after visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Wairere Falls offers a remarkable oasis for those seeking adventure, tranquillity, and the chance to reconnect with the beauty of New Zealand’s great outdoors.

It really is a hidden gem that is easily accessible from neighbouring cities and beckons travellers from far and wide to experience the thrill of the hike and the breathtaking beauty that awaits at the top!