Enjoy easy walking through amazing native bush on your way to the beautiful Wainui Falls.

It’s a very good track that will take you around 2 hrs 30 mins on a round trip. The track crosses farmland with a long suspension swing bridge to walk across. The road out to Wainui Falls also takes you to Abel Tasman National Park.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson Region, South Island
  • Distance: 3.4 km
  • Time needed: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Double back
  • Elevation: 90m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: No
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: No, nothing

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

The walk through lush native bush is stunning. Enjoy the largest & most accessible waterfalls in the Nelson area with a long swing bridge.

Track Quality

Very good track with a long swing bridge to walk across.

Hazards

On one section of the track there is a steep drop-down in to the Wainui river

Transport

You'll need to drive yourself there.

Water

Only out of the Wainui river

Driving Instructions

Before you drive into the town of Takaka, turn to the right and on to Motupipi St. At 1.1 km turn right on to Abel Tasman Drive, yes the same road that takes you out to the famous Abel Tasman National Park, follow the road out to Pohara beach 8.6 km. Keep following the coast past the Abel Tasman monument and into Ligar Bay, 12.5 km then Tata Bay, 13.9 km. Drive up the hill and on to Takapou Bay 17.2 km. At 19.5 km drive over the Wainui river bridge, slow down, 380 meters in front of you is your turn off to the right, look for the sign for Wainui Falls. The car park is only 350m down the dirt road.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

20 km in Takaka

Area & Trail History

Wainui Falls walk is popular with families and can be really busy over the peak summer months. Autumn is the best time to view the waterfall and walk the track, when there are less people around, and it’s still warm.

Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Wainui Falls Walk
Wainui Falls Walk

Wainui Falls Carpark

The drive out to Wainui Falls from Pohara beach is very pleasant. Just before the Abel Tasman monument you will have to drive through a spectacular rock archway. Park on the Abel Tasman Drive Road, not on the farmers track.

Farm track into the falls|||||Wainui Falls Walk
Wainui Falls Track
Wainui River
Wainui Falls Track
Wainui Falls Track
Wainui Falls

On the way to Wainui Falls

From the Wainui Falls car park, walk down the farm track, there are two small creeks to hop across. The main track turns off to the right just after the second creek.

Once you are in the bush, it is easy going, the track might be a little greasy after a day of rain. There is a section of track that has a steep drop off down into the creek, the hand rail will give you some added safety. Once across the swing bridge, the track is not so interesting until the falls come in to view. As you can see it is very rocky around the falls, what a great waterhole for a swim on a very hot day.

See more of my walks in the Abel Tasman Area