Otuihau Whangārei Falls

Image of Otuihau Whangārei Falls showing a man and woman standing in front of the waterfall.

Otuihau Whangārei Falls is a picturesque 26.3 metre-high waterfall, cascading over basalt cliffs. 

Enjoy a relatively short circular walk or for a longer walk start from the A H Reed Memorial Park or Hātea River Walkway.

Dogs are allowed on leash. However, dogs are prohibited in the A H Reed Memorial Park's main reserve.

Parking

There is a public car park off Boundary Road. 

What to expect

  • An easy, circular, surfaced walk around the falls, including a flight of steps.
  • Multiple picnic tables, seating, and viewing spots.

There may be some known and potential hazards that users should be aware of and avoid.

Known hazards in caves and on Council reserves

Aerial image of Otuihau Whangārei Falls showing the waterfall and water at the base.

Aerial image

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Image of a dog facing the bridge and Otuihau Whangārei Falls.

Dog facing the bridge and waterfall

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Image of a man and woman sitting at a picnic bench at the base of Otuihau Whangārei Falls.

Picnic bench at the base

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View of Otuihau Whangārei Falls and surrounding trees taken from one of the viewing platforms.

View from viewing platforms

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Image of Otuihau Whangārei Falls showing a man and woman standing in front of the waterfall.

Image of Otuihau Whangārei Falls

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Image of a couple of people standing at the base of the Otuihau Whangārei Falls.

People standing at the base of waterfall

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Image of the area at the top of Otuihau Whangārei Falls where water collects before falling from height.

Top view of falls

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Image of the bridge on Sands Road loop with Otuihau Whangārei Falls in the background.

Bridge on Sands Road loop

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Otuihau Whangārei Falls loop

Grade:         2
Time:           30 minutes (to complete the loop)
Distance:     1 km

The walk starts at the public car park and crosses the river above the waterfall via a metal bridge. Please exercise caution, as there is no handle rail because the bridge is designed to allow flood water to flow over it.

It leads to the base of the falls where there is picnic table and viewing area.

Safety: Care should be taken to stay on the paths and within the confines of the viewing platforms, as the ground can be slippery and dangerous.

Sands Road Loop

Grade:         3
Time:           3 hours (one-way)
Distance:     4.8 km

The Sands Road Loop also starts from the public car park. After crossing the road bridge over the river, a 500 metre walk along the road towards Ngunguru leads to a right turn into Sands Road. 

The first part of the road is unsurfaced, but is maintained for walkers. The road leads to Clapham Road, and you can reach A H Reed Memorial Kauri Park and the Hātea River Walkway along the track.

Safety: This walk includes a short stretch of road walking. Sands Road can get muddy during wet weather.

Location

Ngunguru Road, Whangārei 0173  View Map

Google Map
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Facility Snapshot

Features

  • BBQ
  • Dogs allowed on-leash
  • Lake or River
  • Park benches, seating and picnic tables
  • Shaded areas
  • Toilets
  • Walks - paved

Trail grades

1 - A well made path with easy access for most people including families.  

2 - A short walk generally on well made path but may include steeper sections.  

3 - A longer walking track usually well made including steps and more suitable for people with reasonable fitness.

Information and Maps

Whangārei Falls Sands Road map(PDF, 162KB)

Summer safe carparks

Summer safe carparks

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