2-3hr return | 5km | Bay of Plenty
It can be difficult in the winter to maintain the motivation to get out onto the tracks, but when you finally summon up the energy to get out there despite the weather, the rewards are all the greater for it. I love heading out to tracks with waterfalls when I know there has been rain as it makes them all the more spectacular and Wairere Falls is a favourite of mine for that reason.
The track starts off nice and gently, winding up past some farmland and into the bush, following the stream that the Wairere Falls tumble into. There are a few quirky touches along the way to enjoy. Early on, you pass by the "International Seat of Peace" which is probably a bit too close to the start of the track to truly need for a rest, but is there anyway in case you need a moment (or ideal for recovery on the way back!). Up the hill from there is also a good viewpoint out over the fields and another throne like seat for those wanting to head up there.
Once into the bush, the track gradually climbs alongside the stream. It is a well formed track, but does require stepping up over rocks and tree roots. In the summer its great as you are well protected from the sun with plenty of spots to dip your toes in the water. In the winter, the trees offer a bit of relief from the rain if you go on a showery day.
Along the track there are a few bridges that guide you across the stream and offer nice views up into the valley. It is a beautiful stretch of forest, with ferns lining the track and small waterfalls tumbling down the rockfaces at the side of the track. After heavy rain the track is prone to rockfall, so caution is urged.
This section of the lower track takes you across the stream via a bridge and board walk that skirts around the edge of the cascading stream before you make your way up through the rocks and back into the bush.
As with so many tracks that have the word "viewing platform" in them, there are some steps to be negotiated on this track! However, they do seem to pass by quite quickly and within 30-45 minutes of leaving the car park you find yourself at the first of the viewing platforms. If waterfall views are what you are after, then this is the best spot. You don't really see the falls from the top platform, but here you get a great view of the North Island's tallest waterfall, standing at 153m.
At this point, there is a decision to be made....continue on to the top viewing platform, or return back down the hill? The DOC description notes that the track from here is really steep and tougher than the track below. I am not sure that is my experience of it. Instead I find the second part of the track better than the first in the sense that there are a lot of switch backs as the track heads up the hill, but not quite as many steps requiring as much of an effort out of your legs. So my vote is always to continue, but obviously it depends on how you are feeling on the day!
On this ascent of the track, it took me around 20 minutes from the lower platform to the upper platform, but it has taken longer than that in the past. All depends on how you are feeling that day. As you get close to the top the track flattens out and you are guided along the edge of the stream which later plummets down the cliff to create the beautiful falls. The track here does get quite muddy and is more exposed, but it is a short section to the viewing platform where you then have a view of the very top of the falls and a clear look out to the farm land that stretches out in front of you.
It is possible to cross the stream and find some nice shaded areas for a picnic on a nice day up here. People also do make their way closer to the edge of the Falls to get a different view, though that probably isn't advised. Further up (away from the edge of the falls) is a great place to dip the toes in and take a rest before heading back down though, so is worth a visit on a nice day.
Parking: There is a large carpark at the base of the falls. No facilities.
Overnight options: This is generally a day walk, but there is a camping spot about 10 minutes further along the track than the top platform and the possibility to continue on to the Huts on the North South Track. I haven't tried this yet myself so will leave the description to another time.
