Mount Damper Falls, Taranaki

Walk #93, 19th November 2022

The waterfall is off the beaten track but worth the visit.

Mt Damper falls plunges 74 metres down a papa cliff. It’s the highest single drop waterfall in the North Island. The base of the waterfall is inaccessible, but there are two viewing platforms.

The weather wasn’t great, but the upside was the rain made the falls even more spectacular.

Walk: Taranaki 2

History

The falls are near the Tihi-Manuka trail, which was used by local Maori as the main route between the Taumaranui area and the north Taranaki coast.

Whangamomona

We stayed at Whangamomona. The Whangamomona Hotel would have to be the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at for the food, the hospitality and the historic setting. It’s real New Zealand, NZ at it’s best.

If you want to see what we really think abour our government, look at the signs in the paddocks. There’s more on the road trip video.

The road trip to Mt Damper Falls is worth the walk just on its own.

Kerosene Creek, Waiotapu

Walk #88, 8th May 2022

This is something different, a creek with two hot water waterfalls. I’ve never seen anything like it.

The creek was quite busy when we got there, it might be quieter during the week. It’s definitely worth a return visit, for a swim next time.

Kerosene Creek is down a gravel forestry road, not far from Waiotapu. It’s not far from the walk we did at Rainbow Mountain.

There’s a walking track from Rainbow Mountain to Kerosene Creek.

Walk: Rotorua 31

Related post: Rainbow Mountain, Waiotapu

If you like getting into hot water, another free hot pool we’ve visited was Butchers Pool at Reparoa. Me in Jan 2022.

Shakespear Regional Park

Walk 72, 25th September 2021

This is a beautiful farm park at the end of Whangaparoa peninsula. It has everything – native bush full of native birds, a waterfall, views, a farm, beaches and a camping area. A pest proof fence has been constructed since our last visit in 2010.

Walk: Auckland 2

Links

Shakespear Homestead Pa

Shakespear Open Sanctuary

Jan 2025, Dozens of rare hihi chicks hatch in Auckland’s Shakespear Regional Park

Click to access map-shakespear-regional-park.pdf

Dawson Falls Walks, Taranaki

Walk 69, 31 July 2021

Dawson Falls sits at the top end of Manaia Road 14 km from Kaponga. The drive in is on a very scenic, narrow bush lined road. The best place to start is the Visitor Centre. Inside the Visitor Centre is the old Syme Hut, a reassembled mountain hut.

We did three walks, to Wilkies Pools, the historic Power Station, and the Dawson Falls.

The Dawson Falls Power Station is just down the road from the Visitor Centre.

The power station’s generator is the oldest in continuous operation in New Zealand and amongst the oldest in the world.

The generator was built by the General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York around 1899 -1901. While full details of its working life before coming to Dawson Falls in 1935 are not clear, it is thought that it may have been used in Tasmania, military camps in Wellington and to light the Wellington Cable Car system.

It provides light and heating to the Dawson Falls Lodge.

Dawson Falls Power Station

Dawson Falls

Walks

Walk: Taranaki 13

History: People of the Mountain, Te Kahui Maunga

The original pre-Polynesian inhabitants of Taranaki were known as the Kāhui people. Te Kahui Maunga were the people of the mountain.

Here’s a clipping about an ancient Maori oven found beneath volcanic ash near Stratford Mountain House, and a raincape artifact from Wanganui Museum.

Related walks

Dawson Falls Walks, Taranaki

Paritutu Rock, New Plymouth

Links

DOC : Dawson Falls area

Dawson Falls Power Station

Wairenga, Bridal Veil Falls

Walk 63, 1st April 2021

The Bridal Veil Falls is a 55 metre high waterfall where the Pakoka River tumbles over a basalt cliff. It’s not far from Raglan. There are three viewing platforms. I recommend going down to the bottom of the waterfall.

Here’s a signboard on the track about the reserve. The local iwi (tribes) affiliate to Aotea. Muriwhenua Kaitangata was the Aotea chief in the 1840’s. The iwi believes the Patupairehe are Maori fairies and are kaitiaki (guardians) of the area.

Walk: Waikato 22

Links

Bridal Veils Falls

Moirs Hill Walkway, Warkworth

Walk 37, Moirs Hill, 17th August 2020

The next few walks will be in the local area. I can’t go outside of the borders of Auckland because of another mandated lock down. These walks are my solace.

This walk is just south of Warkworth on SH1 near the Pohuehue viaduct. There’s a pretty waterfall that the Pohuehue Stream tumbles over.

At the waterfall there’s a plaque dedicated to Beverley Price, a local woman who originated the idea of this track. She died on the Air NZ flight that crashed into Mt Erebus in 1979.

Walk: Warkworth 37

Links

Moirs Hill Walkway

Tawhai Falls

Walk 34, Tawhai Falls, 3rd July 2020

The waterfall is on the road to the Chateau and is reached after a short stroll through mountain toatoa and beech forest.

The falls aren’t that high but they’re pretty. The water tumbles over the edge of an ancient lava flow.

Tawhai Falls

The site is also a Lord of the Rings location, it’s known as Gollum’s pool, the forbidden pool where Frodo and Faramir capture Gollum in the Lord of the Rings.

LOTR, Gollum, Tawhai Falls

The day we visited the falls, it was a beautiful, crisp winter’s day, and we’d just had the North Island’s first dump of snow. The mountains in the near distance – Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, looked beautiful with their white mantles set against a blue sky.

Mt Ngaurahoe

Mt Ruapehu

Walk: Tongariro National Park 45

Links

Whakapapa Village short walks
Tawhai Falls Walk Mt Ruapehu

Huka Falls Walk

Walk 28, Huka Falls Walk, 23 Jan 2020

Huka Falls is a popular waterfall to visit. The clear blue \ green water thunders through a narrow gap and roars over a spectacular three metre drop at 200,000 litres per second.

Huka means to foam or froth.

We started the walk from Spa Park . The start of the walk began near a popular swimming hole where a hot spring joins the Waikato River.

Walk: Taupo 35

Wairere Falls

Walk 19: Wairere Falls, 5th Sept 2019

The Wairere Falls in the Kaimai ranges are the highest falls in the North Island of NZ.

Besides the grandeur of the falls, this site has one of the most important stories in the history of New Zealand. NZ Christian history and culture is built on it.

I tell Torore’s story on the video.

Walk: Waikato 6

Links

Wairere Falls Track

Tarore’s story: NZ history and culture is built on it.

Tarore was from the Ngati Haua tribe. Her father was Ngakuku, a nephew of the great Te Waharoa, and himself a chief of the Ngati Haua of Tainui.

When Tarore’s little book came down to Otaki, the warrior chief Te Rauparaha heard the message and built the Rangiatea Church.

If you would like to receive your own personal copy of the Tarore Story it will be posted free of charge to you by those dedicated to her memory.

Wentworth Falls

Walk 10: Wentworth Falls, 31 Dec 2018

Click here for the video

The last walk for the year: A beautiful bush walk past some old goldmine shafts which lead to this beautiful 50 metre-high waterfall. The walk is near Whangamata, a small town in the Coromandel. Joining us: Colleen, Jenny and her dog Peanut.

Walk: Coromandel 22

Links:

Wentworth Falls