Wainui Falls Track
Golden Bay
47 Rankers Reviews
44 Face-to-Face
6 Golden Bay
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
A thumping waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation
Timing
If you catch the falls after rain, they are more spectacular.
During the New Zealand summer holidays the track will be busier with local holidaymakers.
Access
From Takaka head along Abel Tasman Drive towards Totaranui. Just past Wainui Inlet turn right at the signpost into Wainui Falls Road and continue to the road end carpark.
Track
The track follows the Wainui River upstream through a ferny forest with nikau and some big rata.
Cross the suspension bridge shortly before the falls.
Geology
This is granite country, with huge granite boulders lining the river fally and strewn throughout the streambed. The intense rains and steep watersheds give some mighty floods and logs stack up in the valley.
Wainui Falls are around 20 metre high.
Flora
Northern rata and tree ferns make this a luxuriant forest.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay |
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Reviews
Showing 13 reviews of 47.
Mike Howe
Ranking: 10/10
A must do walk in Golden Bay.
Even in the heat of Summer the river’s water is chill. Take your togs to fully enjoy one of the many swimming holes. Or jump in at the falls themselves.
After heavy rain the falls are impressive.
Nicole Kasischke
Ranking: 9/10
Great waterfall, easy walk including a nice swing bridge, 1 hour return, perfect light when the sun goes down.
Mario Schaeffer
Ranking: 9/10
Short walk to a big waterfall.
Bernd Giermann
Ranking: 8/10
Short walk, easy walk (good for kids), very nice waterfalls.
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Kate and Dom
Ranking: 8/10
Nice easy walk to the Falls which were spectacular!
Louisa Theimann
Ranking: 10/10
A very good and easy walk to the Wainui Falls. This waterfall is large and impressive, you can even sit in the pools in front of this waterfall. It took us about 1 hour return for this walk. You walk along a river and over bridges and have many good photo opportunities. There is a parking space and a toilet at the beginning of the walk. It is very well signposted!
Jennie Holland
Ranking: 9/10
Great walk if you are up that way, as it is quite a drive out there. Well maintained walkway and we got to see some eels swimming in the river.
Sonya Grimm
Ranking: 9/10
Beautiful walk through the rainforest. Easy, with a huge waterfall at the end, where you can swim. Definitely worth it!
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Anika Danits
Ranking: 8/10
Pretty nice waterfall where you can swim in the waterhole.
Tom Teuber
Ranking: 8/10
Short walk to really nice falls. 2km in 2o minutes. Nice water to swim.
Milan Maiwald
Ranking: 8/10
Very nice falls and good track. Took a swim in the ice cold water next to the waterfall. Didymo is there - other than that, a thumbs up!
Stefanie Giese
Ranking: 6/10
Nice walk, very busy which lowered our experience. If more time and you are more alone then great. Definitely take your swimmers. Would enhance the experience. Nice walk with average waterfalls. But nice to do.
John and Jan
Ranking: 10/10
Well crafted track with wonderful river and waterfall views. Swing bridge and waterfalls add sense of adventure.
DOC Managed
Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍
