Quick Facts
Accessibility: 10/10 (easy)
Height: 15′ / 5 m (visible); may be a total drop of 40′ / 12 m
Length of Hike: 0.6 miles / 1 km round-trip
The Record
Kakahi Falls may not be one of those waterfalls that you go out of your way to see just for a waterfall. It’s honestly more of a bonus to an already cool experience. Kakahi Falls is found in Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park near Rotorua. Rotorua is widely known for its geothermal activity, including geysers. It’s very similar to Yellowstone National Park and to some of the features in Iceland.
It’s rather easy to find Kakahi Falls since it’s along the main walking route in the park. To see many of the other features, such as the mud baths, you will pass by the falls. It may not look like the best picture, but that’s because the water is steaming! The water flowing over Kakahi Falls has not long before been heated underground. I’m not sure how much more water will be flowing over the falls even on a rainy day, as evidenced by the way the rocks have been carved by the water.
There are a few other waterfalls just north of Highway 30: Tutea Falls and Trout Pond Falls. I didn’t visit them in 2011, and didn’t visit again when I was in Rotorua in 2024, though we didn’t visit Hell’s Gate in 2024.
Directions
- From Rotorua, head northeast on Highway 30.
- At the junction of highways 30 and 33, continue on 30.
- The entrance to your park will be on the left of the road after just a few miles/kilometers.
- Park and pay the entrance fee to the park.
- Start your journey. You’ll find the falls along the designated loop. I believe there was a sign.
Waterfall Record 
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