Karakariki Waterfall - Waikato's underrated Waterfall
Many waterfalls steal the spotlight in Waikato. We have Bridal Falls and all her 55m glory. And then there is the Marokopa Falls, which looks like it has been transported straight from a Grimm fairy tale with its lush green moss and grandeur.
So it is no wonder that the Karakariki Waterfall is the underdog. No one really talks about this small Waikato waterfall, so here I am writing a whole blog post for this dark horse.
The Karakariki Waterfall - Waikato's underrated Waterfall, is a waterfall you should put on your Waikato waterfall walk list. Trust me on this.
The Walk
Access to the waterfall is to be found at the end of Karakariki Valley Rd off Karakariki Rd. When you arrive, it will look a bit dodgy. Like you have taken a wrong turn, because you have arrived at a dead end and what seems like a farmer’s property. And it is a farmer’s property because the walk goes over private land.
You park before the cattle crossing. The carpark is very small, but because of the walk is off many people’s radars, it is normally quite empty.
To start the Karakariki walk, you need to climb over a fence. Again, it seems like you are trespassing, but there is DoC signage clearly visible so you are in the right place. No dogs are allowed here at all because you are traversing private farmland and they do not want their stock disturbed.
The walk starts with a suspension bridge. Cross it and you will follow the stream through remnant bush and grassland. In winter, it can get very very muddy so be sure to don your gumboots for this venture.
Walk along the stream, and in 20 minutes or so you will reach this small waterfall.
In summer, this is a great spot for a swim.
You can continue on past the waterfall, and do some fossicking in the water and in the rocks.
This walk is a great one to do with kids as it is easy and there is so much to explore and have fun with in nature.
This Waikato waterfall walk is a great mini adventure that is only a twenty-minute drive from Hamilton making it great for a weekend adventure.
Nature
The bush is perhaps the only indigenous bush in this area that escaped being turned into pasture. A sad reality of colonisation’s impact on this land.
We have to protect and restore these pockets of remnant bush that we do have. In this bush, there are parataniwha, rimu, kahikatea and ponga. The bird life is a bit quiet. When I visited, I heard and saw pukeko, rosellas, blackbirds, sparrows, fantails | piwakawaka, and magpies.
This Waikato waterfall walk is a great spot to get some nature therapy without spending too much on fuel driving from Hamilton.
Details
Where - The end of Karakariki Valley Rd, Whatawhata
Dogs - No dogs
Toilets - There are no toilets here, go before you come
Bins - Bring all your rubbish with you
Length of walk - 20 minutes one way, 40-minute return
Waterfall - 2 metres tall, quite a small waterfall but still beautiful