About this place
A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls
Johnny T. Cheng · 2006
A guidebook devoted entirely to NZ waterfalls, with access notes; older, but still the only book on the subject.
New Zealand · Taupō & central North Island
Huka Falls
The Waikato River leaves Lake Taupō, is squeezed into a 15-metre rock slot and bursts out as an ice-blue wall of foam. Add timed dam releases at Aratiatia, jet boats, a geothermal walk, and Marokopa Falls near Waitomo.
Full guide Checked September 2026 by David Bussell · 38 sources
Huka Falls is not tall. The final drop is usually quoted as 11 metres, and DOC notes that the visible height moves between about 7 and 9.5 metres as the flow changes. What makes it unlike almost any other waterfall is volume in a tight space: a few hundred metres upstream, the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest, narrows from about 100 metres wide to a gorge only 15 metres across and 10 metres deep. At high flows, often approaching 220 cubic metres — some 220,000 litres — a second, the whole river is forced through that slot and explodes out of the far end as churning white water over glacier-blue pools. Huka means foam.
You experience it from the edges. A footbridge crosses the gorge just above the falls, straight from the Huka Falls car park five minutes' drive north of Taupō, and a short, wheelchair-accessible path leads to several lookouts over the drop. From there, riverside tracks run upstream 3 km to Spa Park on the edge of town, and downstream 7 km to the Aratiatia Rapids, where Mercury opens a hydro dam's spill gates at set times each day and a dry rocky gorge fills with a torrent in minutes.
Everything else in this guide sits within a short drive: the Hukafalls Jet and the Huka Falls River Cruise, which both take you to the foot of the falls from the water; the AJ Hackett bungy and swing on the Waikato cliffs; the steaming boardwalks at Craters of the Moon; and Lake Taupō itself, with cruises to the Ngātoroirangi rock carvings. If you are driving from Auckland, a western detour takes in Marokopa Falls, a 35-metre curtain through native bush near the Waitomo glowworm caves.
Book this trip
All activities & prices ↓- Hukafalls Jetfrom US$105 Check availability
- Huka Falls River Cruisefrom US$35 Check availability
- Taupō Bungyfrom US$161 Check availability
Huka Falls, Aratiatia or the Waitomo detour?
Huka Falls
The whole river through a 15 m slotHuka Falls Road, off State Highway 1, 5 minutes north of Taupō
Park, cross the footbridge over the gorge, and the noise hits before the view. The lookouts on the far bank face the falls head-on, where the river spits out of the slot and spreads into a wide, milky-blue pool. Come early or late for fewer tour coaches. The track upstream to Spa Park follows the river past the Otumuheke Stream, a naturally hot stream; downstream, the path climbs to cliff-top views on its way to Aratiatia.
Huka Falls footbridgeHuka Falls Lookout WalkSpa Park to Huka Falls WalkOtumuheke StreamHuka Falls to Aratiatia Rapids Track
- Entry Free; car park locked 5:30pm–8:30am (NZ$30 release fee outside those hours)
- Best for Everyone — it is a 10-minute stop or a half-day walk, and the lookout path is wheelchair accessible
Aratiatia Rapids
A dry gorge flooded on a timetableAratiatia Road, off State Highway 5, about 10 km north of Taupō
Before the Aratiatia dam diverted the river in 1964, these were described as the largest rapids in Australasia, dropping 28 metres in a kilometre. Now the gorge sits nearly dry until a siren sounds and the spill gates open, sending at least 65,000 litres a second down the stairway of rock for about 15 minutes. Watch from the road bridge by the car park or walk five minutes to two lookouts downstream. This is the stretch used for the barrel scene in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Aratiatia bridgeAratiatia Rapids Lookout Walk (two lookouts)Huka Falls River Cruise departure point
- Entry Free; releases 10am, 12pm, 2pm daily and 4pm 1 Oct–31 Mar; arrive 10 minutes early to park
- Best for Families, photographers and anyone pairing a release with the river cruise, which leaves 30 minutes after the gates open
Taupō town and the lake
Your base, and the adrenalineTaupō lakefront, marina and Spa Road
Taupō sits where the Waikato leaves Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake at about 622 km², formed by a series of volcanic eruptions. The town is the practical base: hotels line the lakefront, the Chris Jolly Outdoors catamaran leaves the marina for the Ngātoroirangi rock carvings at Mine Bay, and the AJ Hackett bungy and swing hang off the Waikato cliffs on Spa Road. Craters of the Moon, a steaming geothermal field with boardwalks, is a few minutes north near Huka Falls.
Lake TaupōNgātoroirangi Māori rock carvings (by boat)Taupō Bungy & Swing viewing deckSpa Thermal ParkCraters of the Moon
- Entry Lake and parks free; Craters of the Moon NZ$10.20 adult, 9:30am–5pm, last entry 4pm
- Best for Anyone staying more than a day; thrill-seekers; travellers without a car, since the falls are walkable from town
Marokopa Falls and Waitomo
The western add-onTe Anga Road, 31 km west of Waitomo Village
Marokopa is the other waterfall people search for on a central North Island trip, and it is the opposite of Huka: 35 metres high and wide, falling over undercut greywacke into a deep pool in native forest. A short track with some stairs leads to viewing platforms. Te Anga Road also passes the Mangapohue Natural Bridge, a 17-metre limestone arch, and Piripiri Cave, so pair it with the Waitomo glowworm caves on the way between Auckland and Taupō.
Marokopa Falls viewing platformsMangapohue Natural Bridge WalkPiripiri Cave WalkWaitomo Glowworm Caves
- Entry Marokopa Falls free, 20-minute return walk, no dogs; Waitomo Glowworm Caves NZ$81 adult
- Best for Self-drivers coming from Auckland who can add a night in Waitomo
The short answer
Do Huka Falls and Aratiatia together — they are 7 km apart on the same river, and a release at Aratiatia is the best free show in the region. Add the jet boat or the cruise if you want to see Huka Falls from below. Marokopa is worth the detour only if you are driving between Auckland and Taupō with a night to spare at Waitomo.
When to go
Any month works because the flow is controlled, not seasonal; October to March gives you the fourth Aratiatia release and the longest operating hours, while winter is quieter and just as blue.
Season barely touches Huka Falls, because the flow is set by Lake Taupō's control gates and electricity demand rather than rainfall. What changes is the timetable: Aratiatia adds a fourth release and operators run longer hours from October to March.
Summer
December – FebruaryWarm, dry days — Huka Lodge quotes 17°C to the high twenties — and every service on its longest hours: the Hukafalls Jet runs to 5:30pm in December and January, the river cruise adds a 4:30pm sailing, and Aratiatia opens four times a day. It is also the busiest time, with New Zealand school holidays and peak bookings at the bungy. Book jet boats and bungy ahead and reach the Huka Falls car park early.
Open
- Aratiatia releases at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm
- Hukafalls Jet 8:30am–5:30pm
- Huka Falls River Cruise including 4:30pm sailing
- All walks and lake cruises
Closed or compromised
- Easy parking at Huka Falls in the middle of the day
Shoulder months
October – November, March – AprilThe best balance. The summer release schedule at Aratiatia runs from October to the end of March, jet boats keep summer hours until April, and there are fewer crowds. Spring brings gardens into flower; autumn brings leaf colour and cooler days of around 8–15°C. Note that April falls in Mercury's winter schedule, so there is no 4pm release that month.
Open
- Aratiatia 4pm release (October – March only)
- Hukafalls Jet 8:30am–5pm
- All walks, the river cruise and lake cruises
Closed or compromised
- The 4pm Aratiatia release in April
Winter
May – SeptemberCrisp, clear days of around 6–12°C and cold evenings. Huka Falls runs as hard as ever and the blue is just as bright. Aratiatia drops to three releases a day, the jet boat runs 9am–4pm with heated handrails, and the river cruise loses its late sailing. Days are short, so plan walks around the 5:30pm car-park lock at Huka Falls.
Open
- Aratiatia releases at 10am, 12pm and 2pm
- Hukafalls Jet 9am–4pm
- Huka Falls River Cruise at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm
- Craters of the Moon
Closed or compromised
- 4pm Aratiatia release
- 4:30pm river cruise
Timing the Aratiatia release
The trick most visitors miss: walk or drive from Huka Falls to Aratiatia so you arrive about 10 minutes before a release, at 10am, 12pm, 2pm or (October to March) 4pm. A siren sounds, the gates open, and over roughly 15 minutes the gorge below fills to a roaring flow of at least 65,000 litres a second. If you walk the 7 km track from Huka Falls, DOC suggests finishing it as the spill gates are due to open. The Huka Falls River Cruise leaves the same car park 30 minutes after each release, so you can see both.
Everything you can do here
Prices are 2026 advertised rates in NZ dollars from operator and DOC websites, converted to US dollars at about 0.585 (late September 2026); hotel rates could not be verified, so stays are ranked by tier only.
Hukafalls Jet
US$105per adult (NZ$179); child NZ$99 (about US$58); family pass for 2 adults and 2 children NZ$457 (about US$267); prices valid to 30 September 2027
A twin-engined jet boat from Wairakei Tourist Park runs the Waikato at up to 80 km/h, past cliffs, a steaming hot stream, the Wairakei geothermal power station and towards the Aratiatia dam, with 360-degree spins along the way. The payoff is holding in the white water at the foot of Huka Falls. No bags on board, hands-free cameras only when body-mounted, and bring your own raincoat. Only heavy rain stops the boats.
Every day of the year; 8:30am–5pm October–April (to 5:30pm in December and January), 9am–4pm May–September
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Huka Falls River Cruise
US$35per adult 15+ (NZ$59); child 0–14 NZ$19 (about US$11); family pass NZ$137 (about US$80)
The slow way to the base of the falls. A covered riverboat leaves from the Aratiatia Dam car park half an hour after each dam release, so you can watch the rapids fill and then cruise upriver with commentary to the foot of Huka Falls close enough to feel the spray. All seating is under cover and it runs in any weather. It suits toddlers and grandparents, and well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome.
Daily at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm, plus 4:30pm in summer
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Aratiatia Rapids dam release
free
The region's best free spectacle. Mercury opens the spill gates at the Aratiatia dam on a fixed timetable, and a near-dry gorge of volcanic rock fills with at least 65,000 litres a second of white water, recreating rapids that once dropped 28 metres in a kilometre. Watch from the road bridge or the two lookouts a five-minute walk downstream. Stay out of the spillway and river at all times: water can be released without warning.
10am, 12pm and 2pm year-round; also 4pm from 1 October to 31 March
No booking needed.
Spa Park to Huka Falls to Aratiatia walk
free
Walk rather than drive to the falls. From Spa Park on the northern edge of Taupō, an easy riverside track crosses the naturally hot Otumuheke Stream and follows the Waikato to Huka Falls; it is walkers only and parts run close to a cliff edge. Beyond the falls, a shared walking and biking track climbs onto the cliffs, passes under the SH1 bridge and a lookout over the Wairakei power station, and ends at Aratiatia. Arrange a pick-up or walk back.
Year-round
No booking needed.
Taupō Bungy
US$161from NZ$275 per adult; child from NZ$235 (about US$137); photos and video included
A 47-metre jump from a cantilever platform on the cliffs above the Waikato — AJ Hackett calls it New Zealand's only cliff-top bungy. Jump solo or tandem, and ask for a water touch at check-in, though it depends on the river level and is not guaranteed. Spectators watch free from the viewing deck. The site is 5–10 minutes' drive or a 20–25-minute walk from central Taupō, a few kilometres downstream of Huka Falls.
Year-round; weekdays 9:30am–4pm, weekends to 5pm
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Taupō Swing
US$140from NZ$240 per adult; child from NZ$200 (about US$117)
The same cliff, a different kind of fear: a 44-metre pendulum swing out over the Waikato gorge at up to 70 km/h, solo or with a friend. AJ Hackett bills it as the only swing in the North Island. It is a gentler entry point than the bungy for nervous first-timers, and both are sold in combos with the Hukafalls Jet, rafting and skydiving.
Year-round; weekdays 9:30am–4pm, weekends to 5pm
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Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Tandem skydive over Lake Taupō
US$1639,000 ft from NZ$279 (about US$163); 12,000 ft NZ$329 (about US$192); higher jumps also sold
The draw is the view from altitude: the lake, the volcanoes of Tongariro to the south and the Waikato winding north towards Huka Falls. Taupo Tandem Skydiving, which says it has flown more than 200,000 tandem passengers, offers jumps from 9,000 to 16,500 feet. The Huka Freefall combo pairs a 12,000 ft jump with the Hukafalls Jet; its NZ$407 price was listed as valid to 30 September 2026, so check the new rate.
Year-round, weather permitting
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Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Craters of the Moon geothermal walk
US$6per adult (NZ$10.20); child 5–15 NZ$5.10; under-5s free; family NZ$25.50 (about US$15)
A few minutes from Huka Falls, a field of steaming fumaroles, craters and bubbling mud in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, walked on gravel paths and boardwalks. The main loop is easy; the side climb to the upper lookout has plenty of steps and gives the wider view over the steam. It pairs naturally with Huka Falls and Aratiatia for a half-day circuit north of town, and there is now a coffee shop on site.
Open 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day), 9:30am–5pm, last entry 4pm
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
Māori rock carvings cruise
standalone fare not published on the page checked; the Taupō Classic combo with the Hukafalls Jet was NZ$180 adult / NZ$119 child for 2025/26
A 52-foot catamaran crosses Lake Taupō to Mine Bay, where a 14-metre likeness of Ngātoroirangi, the tohunga who led Ngāti Tūwharetoa's ancestors to the region, is carved into the cliff. Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell and a team of carvers finished it in 1980 after four years' work, and it can only be seen properly from the water. A muffin and hot drink are included, with commentary on the way.
Several departures daily from Taupō marina (Berth 4)
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Marokopa Falls walk
free
The western add-on. On Te Anga Road, 31 km west of Waitomo, a short bush track with some stairs leads through native forest to viewing platforms facing the 35-metre falls, where the Marokopa River spreads over undercut greywacke into a deep pool. Stay behind barriers and fences. Stop on the way at the Mangapohue Natural Bridge, a 20-minute walk under a 17-metre limestone arch 25 km from Waitomo Village. Dogs are not allowed.
Year-round; muddy after rain
No booking needed.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
US$47per adult (NZ$81); child NZ$37 (about US$22); family of 2 adults and 2 children NZ$207 (about US$121)
The reason most people are in Waitomo at all, and the natural partner for Marokopa Falls. The guided tour walks through the limestone cave and finishes with a boat drifting silently under a ceiling of glowworms. The visitor centre is cashless, so bring a card, and book ahead because tours are pre-booked only. Other caves, including Ruakuri and Aranui, are sold separately or as combos.
Daily 9am–5pm; pre-booking essential
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Huka Falls runs on a power company's schedule
Every flow figure you read for Huka Falls is a snapshot, because the river is controlled. The Taupō Control Gates, installed in 1941, regulate how much water leaves the lake for the Waikato's hydro stations, and flows rise with electricity demand during the day. That is why sources disagree: 220 cubic metres a second is often quoted, one operator gives a range of 32–270 with a daily average near 160, and another says a quarter of a million litres a second. The drop itself shifts between about 7 and 9.5 metres. Expect it to be powerful whenever you go; do not expect the exact number. The same control applies downstream: at Aratiatia, planned and unplanned spills can happen at any time, so never enter the spillway or river there.
Where to stay
Taupō town is the base for almost everyone, with one famous lodge right on the river above Huka Falls; if you are doing the Marokopa detour, spend a night in Waitomo.
Huka Lodge
Twenty suites and two private cottages in 17 acres of riverside parkland, where fly-fishers have stayed since the 1920s. Rates include breakfast, pre-dinner drinks, a four-course dinner with matched wines and Taupō Airport transfers. One cottage looks downstream to the falls. Children aged 10 and over.
Acacia Cliffs Lodge
A boutique lodge with just four super-king suites, most with lake views, in a converted pole house above Acacia Bay that opened in 2008. Dinner is offered, and packages bundle local activities. Small enough to feel like a private house.
Hilton Lake Taupō
One of Taupō's best-known hotels, with 113 rooms, suites and apartments; the Heritage Wing looks over the lake and the Onekeneke Thermal Valley. Guests have a thermally heated outdoor pool and hot tub, a gym and tennis courts.
Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupō
A lakeside resort with 12 suites and 39 rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a heated pool, a plunge pool, sauna and gym, and views over Lake Taupō. Handy for the airport and a short drive from Huka Falls.
Suncourt Hotel & Conference Centre
A locally, family-owned hotel with lake and mountain views, Lionel's Bistro & Bar with a heated terrace, and the town's shops and restaurants a short stroll away. A practical base without a car if you plan to walk to Huka Falls from Spa Park.
Sacred Waters Taupō
One-, two- and three-bedroom serviced apartments metres from the lakefront, sold as five-star luxury or three-star standard units. A good fit for families or groups who want a kitchen and space to spread out.
Woodlyn Park
The quirky overnight for the Marokopa detour: ten motel units that include two under-hill cave units, suites in a converted ship and units in a Bristol Freighter aircraft, close to the glowworm caves. Also home to a Kiwi culture show.
Search all Taupo accommodation
Getting there & getting in
TUO
Taupō Airport
About 10 minutes' drive south of the town centre and roughly 15 minutes from Huka Falls. Air New Zealand flies from Auckland (about 45 minutes); taxis meet flights, and Avis, Budget, Ezi and Hertz rent cars at the terminal.
AKL
Auckland Airport
The international gateway. Connect to Taupō on a domestic flight or drive about 3.5–4 hours south on State Highway 1; the Waitomo and Marokopa Falls detour adds a western loop via the King Country.
Auckland is the hub for almost all international arrivals; Taupō is also about 1 hour's drive from Rotorua and 4.5–5 hours from Wellington.
Getting around: Huka Falls, Aratiatia and the Waitomo loop
Huka Falls is a five-minute drive north of Taupō on Huka Falls Road, off SH1; the car park is locked from 5:30pm to 8:30am, with a NZ$30 release fee if you are caught inside. Aratiatia is on Aratiatia Road off SH5, about 10 km north of town — arrive 10 minutes before a release to park. Without a car you can walk from Spa Park (3 km) or cycle the Rotary Ride, since the Spa Park riverside track is walkers only. For Marokopa Falls, drive west from Waitomo Village on Te Anga Road: Mangapohue Natural Bridge is 25 km out, Piripiri Cave 29 km and the falls 31 km.
Visas & entry
- NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority)
NZ$17 via the official app or NZ$23 online (about US$10–13.50) Required for visa-waiver travellers, including US, Canadian, UK and EU citizens. Request it only through Immigration New Zealand's official app or website before you fly. Australian citizens do not need one. - International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
NZ$100 (about US$58.50) per person Paid at the same time as the NZeTA or visa application; non-refundable, even if the application is declined. Australian passport holders, many Pacific Island nationals and Auckland transit passengers are exempt.
The fees above are from Immigration New Zealand's May 2026 fees guide; check immigration.govt.nz before you travel.
Ways to spend the time
1 day, from Taupō
Huka Falls and Aratiatia in a day
- Morning — walk the riverside track from Spa Park to Huka Falls (3 km), crossing the hot Otumuheke Stream, and cross the footbridge for the lookouts.
- Late morning — drive or walk on to Aratiatia and be on the bridge 10 minutes before the 12pm release.
- Early afternoon — take the 12:30pm Huka Falls River Cruise from the dam car park to the foot of the falls, or ride the Hukafalls Jet from Wairakei Tourist Park.
- Late afternoon — walk the steaming boardwalks at Craters of the Moon (last entry 4pm), then watch the bungy from the free viewing deck on Spa Road.
2 days
Taupō with the adrenaline
- Day 1 — Huka Falls lookouts first thing, the 10am Aratiatia release, then the Hukafalls Jet; afternoon on the Taupō Bungy or Swing.
- Day 1 evening — dinner on the lakefront; if you are staying at Huka Lodge, dinner is included.
- Day 2 — tandem skydive in the morning while the air is calm, then the 90-minute Chris Jolly cruise to the Ngātoroirangi rock carvings.
- Day 2 afternoon — Craters of the Moon and a walk along the lake edge.
3–4 days by car
Auckland, Waitomo and Taupō loop
- Day 1 — drive south from Auckland to Waitomo and take a glowworm cave tour; sleep in Waitomo.
- Day 2 — drive Te Anga Road west for Mangapohue Natural Bridge and Marokopa Falls, return through Waitomo and continue to Taupō.
- Day 3 — Huka Falls, an Aratiatia release, and the jet boat or river cruise.
- Day 4 — Craters of the Moon and the lake, then drive back to Auckland (about 3.5–4 hours) or fly from Taupō.
Practical notes
- Money and costs Prices here are converted at about US$0.585 per NZ dollar (late September 2026). Huka Falls, Aratiatia and Marokopa Falls are all free. Cards are taken almost everywhere, and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves visitor centre is cashless. The Huka Falls River Cruise accepts cash, EFTPOS, Visa and Mastercard on site.
- Combo prices change on 1 October Many Hukafalls Jet combos — with skydiving, the bungy and the lake cruise — were priced for 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, while the standalone jet ride already shows its new rate to September 2027. Expect combo prices to change for the 2026/27 season and check before booking. Online combos need 72 hours' notice; call for anything sooner.
- Water safety The Waikato here is deep, fast and cold. DOC warns walkers that parts of the Spa Park track run along a cliff edge and children should be supervised. At Aratiatia, never enter the spillway or the river below the dam: planned and unplanned spills can happen at any time, and the spillway is live even when no siren sounds.
- Car parks and timing The Huka Falls car park is locked from 5:30pm to 8:30am, and there is a NZ$30 release fee outside those hours, so do not start a long walk late in the afternoon. At Aratiatia, arrive about 10 minutes before a release. Coach groups cluster at Huka Falls in the middle of the day; early morning is quieter.
- Accessibility The Huka Falls Lookout Walk is wheelchair accessible from the car park across the footbridge. Hukafalls Jet has accessible parking next to its base and staff to help with boarding, but riders who cannot get in and out unaided need two booked support people. The river cruise has all seating under cover and suits most ages.
- Dogs Dogs under control are allowed on the DOC tracks at Huka Falls, Spa Park and Aratiatia, and the Huka Falls River Cruise welcomes well-behaved dogs on a lead. Dogs are not allowed on the Marokopa Falls walk or at the Mangapohue Natural Bridge.
- What to bring on the jet boat Hukafalls Jet provides life jackets but not raincoats, so bring your own. Bags are not allowed on board, cameras must be body-mounted or pocketed while moving, and hats with visors blow off in the spins. In winter bring a beanie and gloves — the handrails are heated. Pregnant travellers are advised not to ride.
How it compares
This waterfall
Huka Falls
New Zealand
Height11 mWidth15 m
Most similar
Petrohué Falls
Chile
Height9 mWidth—
Also a cataract waterfall and of similar height
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
9 m
11 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Petrohué FallsHuka FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Huka Falls
15 m
Angel Falls is 89× taller than Huka Falls. Victoria Falls is 9.8× taller and 114× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 719× wider. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Huka Falls
2:23
3:31
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
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On the map
Questions people actually ask
How much water goes over Huka Falls?
It varies because the flow is controlled for hydroelectricity. A figure of about 220 cubic metres a second — roughly 220,000 litres — is often quoted, and Hukafalls Jet gives a range of 32 to 270 cubic metres a second with a daily average near 160. What makes it so forceful is the squeeze: the river narrows from about 100 metres wide to a gorge 15 metres across just above the drop.
How tall is Huka Falls?
The drop is usually given as 11 metres (35 feet), with a set of smaller cascades of about 8 metres above it. DOC notes that the visible height changes with the flow, from about 7 to 9.5 metres. It is not a tall waterfall; it is famous for volume and colour, not height.
Is Huka Falls free?
Yes. There is no charge to park, cross the footbridge or use the lookouts and tracks. The one catch is the car park, which is locked from 5:30pm to 8:30am with a NZ$30 release fee outside those hours. The paid options are the Hukafalls Jet (NZ$179 adult) and the Huka Falls River Cruise (NZ$59 adult), which take you to the foot of the falls by boat.
What time does the Aratiatia dam open?
Mercury releases water at 10am, 12pm and 2pm every day, and also at 4pm in summer, which Mercury defines as October to March (DOC gives 1 October to 31 March). Each release lasts about 15 minutes. Arrive 10 minutes early to park, and watch from the bridge or the two lookouts downstream. Viewing is free.
Can you walk from Taupō to Huka Falls?
Yes. The Spa Park to Huka Falls Walk starts at Spa Thermal Park on the northern edge of town and follows the Waikato 3 km to the falls; DOC rates it easy and allows about 1 hour 30 minutes. It is walkers only. You can continue 7 km on a shared track to the Aratiatia Rapids, about 2 hours on foot.
Hukafalls Jet or Huka Falls River Cruise?
Both reach the foot of the falls. The Hukafalls Jet is 30 minutes of speed and 360-degree spins at up to 80 km/h for NZ$179 an adult; riders must be at least 1 m tall. The river cruise is 1 hour 20 minutes of calm, covered cruising with commentary for NZ$59, and it leaves Aratiatia 30 minutes after each dam release, so you can see both.
Where is Marokopa Falls and how long is the walk?
Marokopa Falls is on Te Anga Road, 31 km west of Waitomo and 15 km east of Marokopa village, in the Waikato region. From the small roadside car park, a 600–700 metre return track with some stairs takes about 20 minutes and leads to viewing platforms facing the 35-metre falls. It is free; dogs are not allowed.
How far is Huka Falls from Auckland?
Taupō is about 3.5 to 4 hours' drive from Auckland, and Huka Falls is five minutes north of town. Air New Zealand also flies from Auckland to Taupō in about 45 minutes. If you are driving, the western route via Waitomo lets you add Marokopa Falls and the glowworm caves, but plan an overnight stop.
Sources (38)
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/taupo-area/t…
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/taupo-area/t…
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/taupo-area/t…
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/taupo-area/t…
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/marok…
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/manga…
- www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/waikato/places/waitomo-area/tracks/pirip…
- www.mercury.co.nz/about-us/renewable-energy/hydro-generation/aratiatia-hydro-station
- aratiatiarapids.co.nz/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/prices/individual/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/prices/family-pass/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/experience/opening-hours/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/experience/faq/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/experience/what-to-expect/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/location/lake-taupo/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/combos/huka-freefall/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/combos/taupo-classic/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/combos/jump-jet/
- www.hukafallsjet.com/location/taupo-accommodation/
- www.hukafallsrivercruise.co.nz/cruiseinfo
- www.hukafallsrivercruise.co.nz/aratiatia
- www.hukafallsrivercruise.co.nz/huka-falls
- www.bungy.co.nz/taupo/taupo-bungy-centre/
- www.bungy.co.nz/taupo/taupo-bungy-centre/taupo-bungy/
- www.bungy.co.nz/taupo/taupo-bungy-centre/taupo-swing/
- www.taupotandemskydiving.com/
- chrisjolly.co.nz/activity/lake-experiences/maori-rock-carving-cruise/
- www.cratersofthemoon.co.nz/
- www.waitomo.com/glowworms-and-caves/waitomo-glowworm-caves
- hukalodge.com/faq/
- hukalodge.com/stay/
- www.acaciacliffslodge.co.nz/
- suncourt.nz/
- nzpocketguide.com/10-best-hotels-in-taupo/
- www.woodlynpark.co.nz/
- taupoairport.co.nz/parking-and-transport/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huka_Falls
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taup%C5%8D_Airport
Prices, fees and entry rules change. We re-check full guides regularly; spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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