Wainui Falls |
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Waterfalls are not common features in lowland Golden Bay, hence the enduring popularity of Wainui Falls.
This 40 minute walk to one of the highest waterfalls in our coastal fringes. Head towards Totaranui and the Abel Tasman National Park. About 20 minutes past Pohara in this direction you'll pass Wainui Inlet and come to a sign indicating the turn-off to Wainui Falls.
The track cuts across farmland for a few minutes before entering the forest and climbing at a most reasonable pace. Soon the river is below you, surprisingly far below you, in fact, and then you enter some real New Zealand jungle, with nikau palms, strangling rata trees and riots of ferns. Lucky ones amongst you may see the giant landsnail, Powelliphanta.
A spidery but sturdy footbridge carries you across the Wainui River, which is choked here by enormous blocks of granite. After a few more minutes walk the falls can be heard, then, curtained in spray, they pop into sight with satisfying suddenness.
The spray-laden air has assisted mosses and other plants to colonise the rocks and cliffs above the river level. Overhead tower northern ratas, providing splashes of red during summer.
The Wainui River has begun its journey many kilometres away in Canaan and after meandering peacefully down a wide valley has plunged into a deep gorge. There are several smaller falls and rapids but right before you, the river's down-cutting has been halted by a particularly hard barrier of granite. The result: Wainui Falls.
After heavy rain, the falls are an incredible display of noise and power, but at any time of the year a trip up this pleasant little valley is well worth while. Remember, the grades are easy, but parents should supervise children as there are steep drops off the edge of the path in some places.
Kim711 writes on his travel blog "New Zealand for the very first time":
"The walk to the falls and return is advertised as 2 hours, so we bring water and hats, slather on the sun block, and take to the trail. The first stretch is in the sun along a pasture, but we can see the hills in the distance and know what we are in for. The initial climb is gentle along the lower part of the river, and it is pleasant. There are two reminder signs, telling you how much farther you have to go, in case you are tiring.
We begin to work a little harder, going up and over rocks and roots. I stopped 3 times total to catch my breath on this side of the river. There's a bench to rest on, which was kind of someone to drag all the way in here. We round a corner and - surprise! - a swing bridge!
This is a narrow one, only one foot wide. I take a deep breath when our turn comes, and focus on the other end. Even with the wind trying to blow my hat off, it is not too bad. That's probably why no one mentioned it, because they knew folks would be dissuaded if they worried about it up front. From then on, they were much easier to take, and I actually looked out at the scenery while crossing.
We can hear the falls now, and there's just one more hill to get over before we are there. It's a little more slippery here, and I wish I had worn my heavy-duty boots. Slow and steady gets me to the full view of the falls, which are stupendous. "
