Hunua Falls, Waterfall in Hunua Ranges, New Zealand
Hunua Falls is a waterfall in the Hunua Ranges, southeast of Auckland, where water drops about 30 meters (roughly 100 feet) down a dark face of volcanic rock into a pool below. The falls sit along the Wairoa River and are surrounded by native bush that keeps the air cool and damp year-round.
Between 1940 and 1960, local authorities bought up the land around the falls to secure a clean water supply for Auckland as the city grew. That decision kept the surrounding forest from being cleared and opened the area to the public over the following decades.
The name Wairoa, given to the river that feeds the falls, comes from the Māori language and points to the long presence of iwi in this part of the Hunua Ranges. Visitors can sit beside the lower pool and hear the steady roar of the water, which gives the place a particular weight that goes beyond scenery.
Two walking tracks lead to different viewing points, one short and flat near the base of the falls, another longer and steeper that reaches a higher outlook. The path can get slippery after rain, so solid footwear is worth wearing on both routes.
The volcanic rock faces beside the falls are used by climbers for abseiling, which makes this one of the few waterfalls in the Auckland region where adventure activities take place right next to the water. Most visitors who come for the walk are unaware of this side of the site.
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