Quick Facts
Accessibility: 9/10 (easy)
Height: 10′ / 3 m
Length of Hike: 0.1 miles / 0.15 km round-trip
The Record
As usual, I was looking for waterfalls on my second visit to New Zealand. When I would search the southern portion of the North Island, Google Maps would show a pin for Ototoka Falls, but I wasn’t sure whether to visit. The drive to the falls takes longer than might be expected just looking at the distance. The drive from Whanganui involves a stretch of unpaved roads that, while dusty and gravel-laden, remains traversable for those willing to venture off the beaten path. After a short uphill climb in the rental car, we arrived at the parking area perched at a high vantage point, offering an view of the falls and the Tasman Sea beyond.
Though the waterfall itself is modest, standing at about 10 feet tall, its placement against the dramatic New Zealand landscape is striking. A well-maintained network of trails and boardwalks leads you from the heights of the cliffside down to the base of the falls and onto the dark sands of Ototoka Beach. We visited in December, a few days after summer started in the Southern Hemisphere, and yet it was a bit chilly on the beach. The wind was strong with powerful, crashing waves. We explored the beach for a good while. We were pretty much the only ones at the beach and falls.
Directions
- Starting in Whanganui, head northwest along NZ-3 for 5.5 kilometers.
- At the intersection of NZ-3 and Rapanui Road, turn left. Drive for 9.5 kilometers.
- Near Kai Iwi Beach Holiday Park, the road continues forward, with the new name Handley Road. I believe this is where the road becomes unpaved.
- After 4.5 kilometers, veer left onto Ototoka Beach Road. Continue for 3 kilometers to the parking area.
- From the parking area, it’s a short hike to the falls.
Waterfall Record 
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