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 · Auckland Region
Kitekite Falls
Kitekite Falls is a scenic 3-tiered waterfall near Auckland, New Zealand. The falls drop a total of 40 metres .
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.
Kitekite Falls drops 40 metres (131 ft) on the Glen Esk Stream, inside Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a tiered waterfall, a series of distinct drops, one below the other.
What you can do here
Also good forHikingPhotography
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 Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand
- Country New Zealand
- Region Auckland Region, New Zealand, Oceania
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Kitekite Falls
New Zealand
Height40 mWidth—
Most similar
Russell Falls
Australia
Height45 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height 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
40 m
45 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Kitekite FallsRussell FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 24× taller than Kitekite Falls. Victoria Falls is 2.7× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Kitekite Falls 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
-36.96082, 174.48972
Quick answers
Where is Kitekite Falls?
Kitekite Falls is in New Zealand (Auckland Region), inside Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. The nearest base is Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand. Its coordinates are -36.9608, 174.4897.
How tall is Kitekite Falls?
Kitekite Falls drops 40 metres (131 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall on the Glen Esk Stream.
When is the best time to visit Kitekite Falls?
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 Kitekite Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: swimming, hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
Can you swim at Kitekite Falls?
Yes — swimming is a normal part of a visit to Kitekite Falls, in the pools away from the falling water. Only swim where it is permitted on the day, stay clear of the base of the falls where currents recirculate, and skip it after heavy rain.
How do you get to Kitekite Falls?
The usual base is Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Kitekite Falls
Karekare Falls
New Zealand · 3 km away
The Karekare Falls is a waterfall in the western Waitākere Ranges of the Auckland Region, New Zealand.
Pararaha Stream Waterfalls
New Zealand · 5 km away
Pararaha Stream Waterfalls is a waterfall in New Zealand.
Waitākere Falls
New Zealand · 8 km away
Waitākere Falls is a waterfall in New Zealand.
Fairy Falls
New Zealand · 8 km away
The Fairy Falls is a waterfall in the eastern Waitākere Ranges of Auckland, New Zealand.