Wairere Falls

Wairere Falls, the highest waterfall in New Zealand's North Island,[1] plunges 153 metres (500 feet) in two steps over the Kaimai escarpment.

[1] A walking track runs from the car park at the end of Goodwin Road, up the valley of the stream to a viewing platform, and thence to the top of the plateau and the crest of the falls.

The track is about 5 km (3.1 mi) return to the lower lookout[3] and climbs about 380 m (1,250 ft) from Goodwin Road to the top of the falls.

This part of the Range is formed of Waiteariki Formation, a crystal-rich, welded, dacite ignimbrite.

[13] Ngāti Hinerangi value Te Wairere Falls as the place where an early explorer, Ngahue, killed a moa, to use for food on his voyage back to Hawaiki.

Wairere Falls in April 2010 (upper lookout to right) and May 2023 (after heavy rain) from the lower lookout
View from the top of the falls