Standing at a whopping 153m, Wairere Falls is the North Island's tallest waterfall. The Wairere Falls Track is one of my favourite walks in the Bay of Plenty and although the hike to the top is challenging, it's absolutely worth it for the views over the Waikato plains.

Track overview

Difficulty: Moderate (lots of stairs)3

Length: 5km return

Time: 3 hours return

The first section of the trail is relatively easy and takes about 45 minutes to reach the lower lookout. You'll start at the carpark and then wander through native bush until you spot the viewing platform, where you’ll get your first glimpse of the falls. Even if you're not a hiker, I recommend coming here. It's not too challenging, and I think it's the best view of the waterfall.

From here, the track becomes steeper and much more challenging. You'll climb upwards through dense forest, over tree roots, and through rocky scrambles. There are so many stairs in this section of the track, so I'd recommend having a moderate level of fitness (or good willpower!)., but they lead to an epic reward at the summit!

How to get there

The track starts at Goodwin Road, south of Te Aroha. Springs. Turn right at Okauia Springs Road and then left onto Old Te Aroha Road. Turn right again at Goodwin Road, and you'll have arrived. The free carpark is 0.7km from the turn-off. There's plenty of parking and free toilets there too.