Family-friendly and accessible for all, this loop track takes you to a series of remarkable plunge pools formed by the scouring action of water-borne sand and gravel on 20,000-year-old lava. Off the path, you have the option to scour the rocks around the pools. The higher you go, the better the view of the mountain.

The track begins from the carpark 100m above the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre.

  • Walk through the Goblin Forest of twisted kāmahi trees hanging with ferns and mosses.
  • Walk straight ahead past the turnoff to Waingongoro Hut. This junction is also where the return loop will bring you back later in the walk. It is also possible to go to the pools and return the same way, without crossing the river.
  • Cross the Kapuni Stream. Take care here as the riverbank may be eroded, making access difficult. There is no bridge across this stream.
  • Rock steps allow you to walk up beside the pools to the top, but take care as it can be slippery.
  • Return to the base of the pools to continue the walk. The rest of the loop leads through sub-alpine scrub and montane forest past Twin Falls and Bubbling Springs.
  • Walk past the road-end’s water intake weir, cross the Kapuni Stream, and turn left to return to the parking area.  

 

Please note: Te Rere o Noke (Dawson Falls) and Wilkies Pools have high cultural and spiritual significance for Māori. They are considered a place of healing connected to the cleansing power of the water that flows from the sacred mountain. Visitors are asked to show respect by not entering the water and leaving no trace by removing all rubbish.

For further information contact New Plymouth, Stratford or South Taranaki i-SITE Visitor Centre, or view the downloadable brochures from our website.

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