The Ananui Falls Track is located in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park.

The Ananui Falls Track is a medium grade 5 km walk that will take you around 2.5 hours one way, to reach the waterfall. Once you’re there, stand on the edge of the Ananui Falls and look right over, wow! Be prepared for wet feet; you’ll have to cross two creeks, in the summer you can potentially rock hop across. The walk is mostly through typical North Island bush with lovely Kauri trees and ferns lining the track, excellent for keeping the sun off you.

The Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park in the Bay of Plenty is known for its historic mining sites and kauri logging.

Unfortunately, the Ananui Falls Track is currently closed to prevent the spread of Kauri Dieback

Explore the Local Area

There are many exciting things to do near Ananui Falls.  Perhaps you are a Lord of the Rings fan and would be thrilled to experience a guided tour through Hobbiton?  This day-long tour also includes a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.  If Hobbiton isn’t your thing, then another popular experience is an evening scenic kayak tour to see the glow-worms.  Drinks and nibbles are included in this amazing experience.  Both tours depart from Tauranga.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Katikati, North Island NZ
  • Distance: 5 km one way – 10k round trip
  • Time needed: 2 hours 30 mins to Ananui Falls one way
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Round Trip
  • Elevation: 243m
  • Wet Feet: Yes – two creek crossings
  • Toilets: No
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes
  • Last Updated: November 2020

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

On top of the main ridge, you will walk through dozens of young Kauri trees, around 60 years old. But the main highlight is the Ananui Falls

Track Quality

There are two good creek crossings along this track. In the summertime, you can rock hop across.

Hazards

Ananui Falls is around 106 metres high. Walking to the very edge of the falls can be dangerous after rainfall, very slippery.

Transport

You will need a car to get there.

Water

No problems with good fresh mountain drinking water available.

Driving Instructions

Unknown

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

Katikati is the nearest town, 10Km

Area & Trail History

Unknown

Map Location

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Points of interest along the walk​

Ananui Falls Walk - car park
Wairoa River
Waitengaue Track
Ananui Falls Walk
Wairoa River

Point 1: Start – Woodland Road Car Park

Just a short 10 km drive from Katikati to the roads end. Just watch out for Mr farmer Brown and his dog.

Ananui Falls Walk
Ananui Falls Walk
Ananui Falls Walk
Ananui Falls Walk
Ananui Falls Walk
Old site of the Waitengaue Hut

Point 2: Ananui Waitawheta Hut

The walk up the Waitawheta stream is an enjoyable walk under cover of the bush. Six minutes into the walk is the swing bridge, here is where your feet could get wet. After an hour of walking, we came to the site where an old hut used to be many years ago. This is a good spot to camp, flat and plenty of water, but not a lot of firewood. The next creek crossing is three minutes away.

Waitengaue River crossing
Waitengaue River crossing
Turn off to Ananui Falls Track

Point 3: Ananui Waitawheta Junction

Now you have two creek crossings and a thirty-minute walk to the junction. You will see the sign where you cross the Waitawheta River, carry on up the valley.

Ananui Falls
Ananui Falls
Ananui Falls Walk
kauri trees
Ananui Falls Walk
Looking out to Tauranga
kauri trees
Ananui Falls Walk
10 minute climb

Point 4: Ananui Falls

This section starts with a 150-metre climb to the next turn off. The first twenty minutes is the hardest. But you can catch glimpses of the falls at the end of the short climb. As you walk through small stands of Kauri trees, at the end of your climb, walk very quietly as you could run into a deer or two. Then turn off to the right and walk the 75 metres to the Ananui Falls. The last 10 metres can be very slippery if wet.




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