The best waterfalls in Waikato

In Māori, “Huka” means “foam,” which makes perfect sense once you see the rushing waterfall and its white, frothy waters.

I quickly looked up why the water appears so blue. The water at Huka Falls comes from Lake Taupō, which is mainly fed by snowmelt from the upper reaches of the Waikato River. The water contains fine volcanic sediments that scatter light, making blue and green wavelengths more visible to the human eye, which gives the water its striking blue colour. As the river narrows through the gorge, the forceful flow creates a large amount of foam, making the whole scene even more vivid and bright.

Best viewing spots:

Bridal Veil Falls (New Zealand)

It’s surprisingly easy to “take over” a waterfall for just the two of you in New Zealand.

This is Bridal Veil Falls, located west of Hamilton, about a one-hour drive away. As the name suggests, the waterfall really does look like a bridal veil—delicate and flowing, almost like a soft curtain of water.

Today I want to recommend a famous waterfall track I visited recently — Wairere Falls. It’s located in Waikato and is also known as the highest waterfall in the North Island.

At the beginning, you walk through a forest and then slowly start climbing uphill. Along the way, the trees and rocks are all covered in moss, and you’ll keep seeing small streams running beside the track. The trail is pretty easy to walk, and it takes about 45 minutes to reach the waterfall viewing platform. The waterfall is really tall — seeing it with your own eyes is way more shocking and impressive than in photos!

Because we had to rush to our next plan, we stopped at the viewing platform and didn’t continue up to the top of the waterfall. Going to the top would take another 45 minutes, and I believe the view there would be even more breathtaking.

Marokopa Falls in Waitomo, New Zealand’s North Island

This is Marokopa Falls in the Waitomo region of New Zealand’s North Island. The sign says it's a 10-minute walk and 420 metres to the lookout. If you take your time walking, looking around, and taking photos, it will definitely take longer than 10 minutes.

There are a few spots with puddles along the track, with one section being a bit longer, but regular shoes are fine.