The falls drop 55 metres off a basalt cliff into a sandstone pool below. It’s a short walk from the car park through native bush, nikau palms, tawa, kawakawa, with three viewing platforms at different heights. The bottom one is the best. I went all the way down and it’s worth every one of those steps.
| Distance | 1.5 km return |
| Time | 10 minutes to the top lookout, 30-40 minutes to the bottom and back |
| Difficulty | Easy to the top lookout, moderate to the bottom |
| Start | Kawhia Road car park, off Te Mata Road |
| Parking | Free, sealed, space for about 15 cars — gets busy on weekends |
| Dogs | No |
| Wheelchair access | No — track needs repair after storm damage, but the walk is open |
| Toilets | Yes, at the car park |
| Mobile coverage | Limited at car park, better at the viewpoint |
| Cost | Free |
From the car park it’s a 10-minute walk through native bush following the Pakoka River to the top of the falls. The track splits at a T-junction, left takes you right to the edge for the top view, right follows the steps down.
There are two sets of steps down: 135 to the middle platform, then another 129 to the bottom. Both have handrails the whole way. The bottom platform is where you really understand the scale, the water free-leaps off the cliff and crashes into the pool with a proper roar. On a windy day you’ll get misted.
The track back up is the same way you came.
No. The water quality at the base doesn’t meet health standards for swimming. Don’t get in.
Drive out on SH23 toward Hamilton, turn onto Te Mata Road, then left into Kawhia Road. The car park is about 4 km along. It’s a 15-minute drive from Raglan, about 42 minutes from Hamilton. No public transport, you’ll need a car.
Toilets at the car park. No drinking water on site. Cafés and restaurants back in Raglan on Bow Street.
