Kaiate Falls

Kaiate (or Te Rerekawau)Falls is one of those “locals” places. A cool-as spot that locals love but guidebooks like Lonely Planet completely overlook. Even the DOC literature hardly inspires a visit. That’s why you have this guide (I hope)…to find places like this. Go. There’s a waterfall for every kind of smile here.

This small stream—Raparapahoe—spits over a series of stairstep waterfalls in a sunny, forested Shangri-la. Go between noon-4pm for pool-side sunbathing. The lowest falls has the hugest dive-able pool. Each falls merits exploring—how many can you sneak behind??