Whangārei Falls is a classic, 26-meter-tall curtain waterfall just outside of Whangārei, Northland, and my favourite road trip stop on the drive from Auckland to the Bay of Islands. There are three ways to see the falls. If you do the whole loop walk, it will take around 30 minutes.

The first viewing platform

The first part of the walk to Whangārei Falls is easy and suitable for people of all abilities. Plus, it's accessible for pushchairs and wheelchair users. You’ll wander through the scenic reserve for two minutes before reaching the first viewing platform, where you’ll get a stunning view of the Hātea River cascading into the pools below.

It's not unusual to see Hātea River dry up a bit in summer. When this happens, the falls aren't as strong as they would be after rain or in the wet seasons.

The second viewing platform

Keep following the path, and you’ll cross the Hātea River via a concrete bridge. Two minutes later, you’ll reach the second viewing platform on your right. This is a better view than the first, but I really recommend walking down to the base of the falls for the best views, particularly if you're a photographer!

The base of the falls

This is where you'll get the best views of Whangārei Falls! Keep walking along the same track, which will wind through native bush for around 5-7 minutes. It isn't difficult, but it does have a little gradient, so watch your footing. Once you reach the bottom, you'll cross over a second (much more impressive) bridge to Whangārei Falls.

You can return to the carpark using the same track or via the second track on the other side of the river to do the whole loop walk. Both are equally steep.

How to get there

Whangarei Falls is only 10 minutes from Whangārei city centre or roughly 2.5 hours from Auckland. You can bring your dogs with you, but they must always be on a lead.

Follow the "Whangārei Falls" signs to Boundary Road carpark and Whangārei Scenic Reserve where there's free parking and well-serviced flushing toilets. The scenic area is beautiful, and a few picnic tables are dotted about in case you want to stop for lunch.