Fairy Falls in May 2011

If you head west out of Auckland, you will at some point likely enter the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.  It is definitely worth your time to visit that area, as it is stunningly beautiful.  If you continue heading west, you can end up at Piha Beach, which I would visit again in a heartbeat.

In the park, in a slightly different direction from Piha Beach, you can find Fairy Falls.  Well, you can find the parking area to Fairy Falls.  There is a hike for this one, and I can’t seem to remember whether it was a particularly long hike…  It doesn’t seem like it was that long.  I remember it taking something like 20-30 minutes (maybe 40 at most)  to get to the falls, and that was stopping along the way to take photographs at many of the cascades above the “main” falls.  The scenery is amazingly beautiful, and the elevation doesn’t change outrageously for most of the hike, so it’s very enjoyable.

As you proceed further along the hike, stairs appear and lead you further downstream toward the main falls.  To get to the base of the falls, you will have to climb a number of stairs.  It is well worth it, though.

Directions:

1. Head west from Auckland toward Waitakere Ranges Park.  I believe I started on Hillsborough Road, which passes through suburban Auckland.
2. At numerous points, the name of the road changes, but just remember to keep heading west.
3. In Titirangi, you will choose to head slightly southwest onto Scenic Drive Road.  (I believe there are signs indicating Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.)
4. Continue along Scenic Drive Road for a significant distance.  It’s a winding, curvy journey.  Pass the Arataki Visitor’s Centre and continue on.
5. The parking area was on the left along Scenic Drive Road (if I remember correctly).  Across the road was the start of the trail.

Accessibility: 5/10 (moderate)
Height: 49′
Length of Hike: 2.0 miles round-trip

Where in the World is Fairy Falls?