Karekare Falls

Karekare Falls

Karekare Falls
4.5
About
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Karekare Falls and nearby attractions

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles11 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0

Patricia C
Houston, TX115 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Karekare is less than a 5 minute hike from the trailhead to the watefalls and absolutely beautiful. The parking lot is small and loacted ACROSS the road from the trail. You will have to take a few minutes to look around and locate it - across the road and uphill. There you will find a DOC sign telling you that it is Karekare Falls. The trail itself is easy and clear to follow. And the reward is this stupendous waterfall! We took our lunch and had a picnic while enjoying the waterfall all by ourselves. Though the parking lot was full, many folks didn't look across the road for the trailhead! We saw many waterfalls in NZ, but this was one of the easiest hikes to find a great waterfall. Caution: clean your shoes, etc., as this is an area rangers are trying to protect from kauri dieback disease. Be respectful and pack out your trash. This waterfall was pristine. Please leave it that way for future visitors!
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jonathan T
Howick, New Zealand133 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
It had not been raining in Auckland for weeks so we thought there might not be a waterfall. Fortunately we were wrong. There was still a great waterfall.

We initially parked in the first large car park and tried to walk out to the beach. (I’d recommend including that in your visit). If you do walk out to the beach, make sure you are on the southern side of the little stream that runs out to the ocean. Otherwise you’ll need to take your shoes off to cross the stream.

After a walk to the beach we walked back through the car park and crossed the bridge and up the hill to the waterfall. It’s not far up the road on the left hand side. The walk is max 5 min.

Definitely take a swim when you get there. It might be a bit chilly but worth it. The water is deep enough and clear.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,525 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2019 • Couples
Oh yeah, a waterfall pouring upon the heads of the faithful (with exceptional cold water tolerance) ... this is a place of beauty. It connected with us; New Zealand pulled out all ths stops when this marvelous location/creation took on life as God's little pond.

Oh my, tickle me blue, or pink, or whatever ... this will live in those brain cells of mine for near eternity. Can I come back? Soon? You betcha, this is one of those places that captured us and held us close to that spiritual bosom of nature's most significant deity. Ah, if only ... okay, this is on the return agenda. Enough said.

Our wine country tour included a near-spiritual (it's all in the eyes of the beholder, after all) one-on-one encounter with the beauty of New Zealand. This is one grand "colony of the Crown." Lucky you, Queen Elizabeth!
Written March 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Experience818194
3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • Couples
Nice place. The water fall and Opal pool are great. The narrow roads however are an absolute nightmare when lots of cars are parked on the sides of the road due to not enough proper parking. You can literally find yourself at an impasse. I found myself face to face with a ‘resident’ who was the biggest rude, moron, idiot I’ve ever met. I wouldn’t wish that encounter on anyone. I do find it funny that he has to experience that phenomenally bad traffic congestion every weekend when he needs to go somewhere though. Apart from the traffic issues and that ridiculous man and unfortunate experience it’s a great place to visit. Hope you don’t run into the resident clown.
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

msnakim
Singapore2,688 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2018 • Family
This is not a waterfall that I would travel 45min out of Auckland to see. But if you are visiting Karekare Beach or Piha Beach, then you might as well see the falls too.

The main carpark is at 2 Karekare road. From here, turn right and walk towards Zion Hill Track (as marked on Google maps). The falls is a little further up.
Written December 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelManWales09
Ilfracombe, UK23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Friends
Very scenic and beautiful falls if you like this kind of thing. 100% worthy of a short drive from Auckland as you obviously won’t find something like this in the city!! Small walk to get there but it’s worth it!!
There’s also small pools at the top of the falls that you can sit in and take in the view overlooking the falls, whilst the water flows over the edge. Very beautiful and great photo opportunities.
Written January 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AhausFamily
Grapevine, TX9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Just a short walk from the parking lot at the beach. There is a smaller falls first and then you get to the big Karekare Falls. The height is impressive!
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul Scants
Auckland, New Zealand19 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Family
Nice little waterfall with very easy access from the beach car park, small pool to swim in on a nice day. If you are here visiting the beach it's worth the short walk.
Written January 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mr C
3,938 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The Karekare Falls are a 5 minutes walk from Karekare car park. The walk is through rainforest and the falls are a pleasant spot.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

buffykc
Mooroolbark, Australia604 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
Easy walk down the track takes you to a rewarding and stunning view of a beautiful falls.

Very peaceful place
Written October 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Karekare Falls - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

FlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars