Tongariro field notes
Ohakune & Tūroa

Waitonga Falls Track

Easy Half day

Boardwalk across an alpine wetland that mirrors Ruapehu, then forest to the park’s highest waterfall.

4.0 kmreturn
1 hr 20 min returnwalking time
↑ 316 mclimb
1,272 mhigh point
DOC page ↗
Waitonga Falls Track Waitonga Falls Track © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rotokawa © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0
Waitonga falls © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0

Elevation profile

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What you’ll see

  1. 1
    Rotokawa
    Wetland· 1,140 m Rotokawa Pools
  2. 2
    Waitonga Falls 2
    Waterfall· 1,100 m Waitonga Falls
  3. 3
    Turoa, Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand (48246803821)
    Ski area· 1,620 m Tūroa Ski Area
Alpine wetlandMountain beech forestMountain reflections39 m waterfall

The walk

The track crosses the Rotokawa bog on a boardwalk, with Ruapehu’s southern peaks reflected in the pools on a calm morning, then drops through mountain beech to a viewing platform below the 39 m Waitonga Falls. Steps on the way back up.

Start. Ohakune Mountain Road, 11 km above Ohakune

Snow & season

Winter snow

Snow reaches the track several times each winter, when it is magical but slippery. Ohakune Mountain Road may need chains.

Best season: All year

Live forecast →

More photos

Rotokawa 2 © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nearby

Combine with