DK Eyewitness New ZealandDK Eyewitness
Guidebook
DK Eyewitness New Zealand
DK Eyewitness · 2024
Illustrated maps and regional chapters, helpful for planning a road trip between Taupo, Waitomo and Fiordland.
New Zealand · Westland District
Gates of Haast
The Gates of Haast is a gorge on the Haast River in Mount Aspiring National Park in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 56 kilometres inland by road from the township of Haast and 9 kilometres from the summit of Haast Pass.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Gates of Haast drops over a series of steps on the Haast River, inside Mount Aspiring National Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Westland District, New Zealand. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Gates of Haast itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Westland District are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Spring, September to December, pairs snowmelt or winter rain with lengthening days; autumn (April to May) is the quieter second season.
Getting there
- Base town Westland District, New Zealand
- Country New Zealand
- Region Westland District, New Zealand, Oceania
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Gates of Haast
New Zealand
Height—Width—
Most similar
Tolmer Falls
Australia
Height42 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall and in Australia
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
42 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Tolmer FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
We don't have a reliable crest width for Gates of Haast yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
Moon New ZealandJamie Christian Desplaces
Guidebook
Moon New Zealand
Jamie Christian Desplaces · 2024
Built around road trips and the Great Walks, a good fit if you're combining the Milford Track with North Island falls.
Guidebook
Lonely Planet New Zealand
Lonely Planet · 2023
The 21st edition covers Fiordland, Milford Sound, Taupo and the Waikato, so it handles every NZ fall on this site.
The Rough Guide to New ZealandRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to New Zealand
Rough Guides · 2023
A current second opinion on routes and stays, with good coverage of the Waikato and the road into Milford Sound.
On the map
-44.03988, 169.38034
Quick answers
Where is Gates of Haast?
Gates of Haast is in New Zealand (Westland District), inside Mount Aspiring National Park. The nearest base is Westland District, New Zealand. Its coordinates are -44.0399, 169.3803.
When is the best time to visit Gates of Haast?
Peak flow is September to December. Spring, September to December, pairs snowmelt or winter rain with lengthening days; autumn (April to May) is the quieter second season.
What can you do at Gates of Haast?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Gates of Haast?
The usual base is Westland District, New Zealand. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Gates of Haast
Thunder Creek Falls
New Zealand · 28 m · 1 km away
Thunder Creek Falls is a waterfall in Mount Aspiring National Park, Westland District, New Zealand. It is…
Fantail Falls
New Zealand · 15 m · 4 km away
Fantail Falls is a waterfall in Mount Aspiring National Park, Westland District, New Zealand. The waterfall…
Roaring Billy Falls
New Zealand · 30 m · 14 km away
Roaring Billy Falls is a waterfall in Mount Aspiring National Park, Westland District, New Zealand. It is…
Humboldt Falls
New Zealand · 275 m · 120 km away
Humboldt Falls is a waterfall located in the Hollyford Valley in the Fiordland district of New Zealand. They…