Unfortunately the Ohau Waterfall Walk is closed until further notice due to 2016 earthquake damage.

Whale watching scenic flight from Kaikoura with sperm whale

Save $133 - off the a Whale Watching Scenic 40 minute flight from Kaikoura

Fly over the whales on this stunning scenic flight which includes Kaikoura and it’s coastline. 

You can still see plenty of seals at Kaikōura Peninsula, just south of the Kaikōura town, a short walk around the shoreline from Point Kean car park. Seals can also be seen from along the highway from parts of the new Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: East Coast, Northern end of the South Island
  • Distance: 0.15 kms
  • Time needed: 10 minutes
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Double back
  • Elevation: 25m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: No
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes
  • Last Updated: November, 2019

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

If you time it right you can stand under the rail bridge as a freight train goes over your head. On the ocean side of the road you might see a few fur seals sunning themselves on the rocks. You will most likely smell them before you see them. During the breading season the young seal pups make there way up the Ohau stream to the waterfall, so they can get away from their domineering mums.

Track Quality

Very good. Mainly dirt track

Hazards

Closed due to earthquake damage. Watch out for seals in to pool.

Transport

No

Water

No

Driving Instructions

From Kaikōura drive north on highway 1 towards Picton for 26.5 Km. You are getting close to the walk when you pass the smelly seal colony on the right. As you drive around a left hand corner, there is a very large parking area on the left hand side of the road; you will see this parking area first. 100m ahead and on the right hand side is another parking area this is where the walk starts. It is a very easy park to pull into. But watch out for the north bound traffic.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

Kaikoura

Area & Trail History

Unknown

Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Ohau Waterfall Walk - Starts
Ohau Waterfall Walk - Starts
Ohau Waterfall Walk - Starts

Start of the walk

These photos were shot looking south to Kaikoura. As you can see there is plenty room to pull over. Keep an eye out for the train tunnel as you drive around the left hand corner. The track makes it way alongside the creek and around the bass of the train bridge. The time stated for the walk on the notice board is 10 minutes; you cut that in half quite easy.

Ohau Waterfall Walk - Points 2
Ohau Waterfall Walk - Points 2
Ohau Waterfall Walk - Points 2

Ohau Waterfall Walk

The walk around the rock face, remind me of the walk around the Karangahake Gorge in the north island. As for the waterfall, Well, not too bad. It’s a pity it didn’t get a little more sun light in there to give it more life. Again watch out for seals they swim up the creek to the falls.

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