getlostwithliam — Whirinaki Waterfall

DETAILS 👇 Share this post with your favorite adventure partner ✨ Walking through Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, you’re surrounded by a "dinosaur forest" of towering Podocarps (rimu, mataī, and kahikatea) that are a remnant of Gondwanaland. 🌿 The Te Whāiti-Nui-a-Toi canyon itself is the crown jewel, where the Whirinaki River has carved through ancient rock, framed by moss-draped cliffs and ferns. 🥾 The Canyon is just 15 minutes down the easy-to-moderate Whirinaki Waterfall Loop Track, roughly 11km (6.8 miles). Give yourself about 3.5 hours to do the whole thing, or just 30 minutes to see the canyon. The trailhead starts at the River Road car park, about a 1.5-hour drive from Rotorua. Follow @getlostwithliam for more hidden NZ gems 🌿