Hiking
Rainbow Falls: an easy waterfall outing near Kerikeri
Visit Rainbow Falls near Kerikeri: short paths to waterfall viewpoints, picnic and toilet facilities, parking and real aerial location maps.
Rainbow Falls is a handy Kerikeri outing when you want a substantial waterfall without a long bush walk. The short approach and several viewing points make it easy to take your time.
On this page: Quick facts · Start · Maps · Route · What to bring
Quick facts
- DOC lists 400 m and 10 minutes one way; allow around 20 minutes return plus viewing.
- Short, accessible walking with several viewpoints.
- Car park, picnic area and toilets at the road end.
- No dogs; swimming is not recommended.
Getting to the start
Use the car park at the end of Rainbow Falls Road. Reach it from Waipapa Road via Kerikeri’s Heritage Bypass. The close map shows the main recorded approach; follow the signs at the site for the viewing points.
Location and route maps
Orange highlights show DOC’s recorded track over real aerial imagery. Open a map for a closer look.
DOC track information and official map
What the walk is like
- Leave the road-end car park on the signed falls path.
- Visit the two waterfall viewing points.
- Look for the third viewpoint beside the historic weir.
- Return to the same car park for a picnic or to continue your day.
Effort and conditions
The main challenge is keeping clear of steep drops rather than the length of the walk. Keep children close and use the viewing areas. Look for pūriri, tōtara and karaka along the way, and listen for tūī and fantails.
What I would bring
I would take shoes with grip, a light rain layer and water. The picnic area makes this an easy place for a snack, but take all rubbish away.
Planning your return
The Kerikeri River Track connects with this area but is a longer, more demanding outing. This guide covers the short falls visit only. No camping, fires or biking are allowed on the walk; check current DOC notices before travelling.
Other walks to plan around
- Trounson Kauri Park: A forest loop farther west, for kauri and birdlife rather than a waterfall.
- Cape Reinga lighthouse: An exposed coastal outing much farther north, worth planning as a separate road-trip stop.
For kit planning, see our New Zealand day-walk gear guide.
Sources and photo credits
Researched trail guide using DOC information, checked 2 October 2026.
Maps: LINZ Basemaps and imagery contributors, CC BY 4.0. Track geometry: Crown copyright, Department of Conservation, DOC Tracks dataset, CC BY 4.0. Location labels and route highlights added.
Photo: Kerikeri Rainbow Falls.jpg — The original uploader was JShook at English Wikipedia .. CC BY 2.5. Resized for display.
