Waitakere Falls is approximately a 40-minute drive from Auckland City, with sealed roads throughout the journey.

There are two main ways to reach the car park: either follow the road toward Piha and then turn right onto Scenic Drive, or head toward Bethells Beach and turn left onto Scenic Drive. If you choose the first option, the car park will be on your left along Scenic Drive and is marked by a sign ‘Waitakere Dam Walk.’ Please note that there are no facilities, such as toilets, at this car park.

The relatively easy Waitakere Dam Walk takes about 30 minutes and leads to the Waitakere Dam—a perfect picnic spot equipped with plenty of benches and a great view. There is also a long-drop toilet near the dam.

From the dam, you can access the Waitakere Tramline Walk (currently closed) (entrance located just off the Waitakere Dam Walk, on the right, about a minute before reaching the dam). A 5 to 15-minute walk along this trail offers distant views of the waterfall, with the best vantage point just before the tunnel entrance or a couple of minutes past Kelly Stream Waterfall. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get closer to the falls. You will need to return the same way.

The top of the falls is also accessible. From the dam, you’ll see stairs nearby—follow these down, then near the bottom, turn right and descend to a bridge that crosses the falls. This is another lovely picnic spot, and the round trip takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

Additionally, there are two longer hiking options to reach the waterfall:

• Combine the Cascade Track and Fence Line Track for a 2.5 to 3-hour return walk from Falls Road.

• Combine the Anderson Track and Waitakere Tramline Walk for a similar 2.5 to 3-hour return hike from Scenic Drive. (currently closed)

If you prefer a shorter visit or are unable to do a long hike, you can still catch a glimpse of Waitakere Falls from a distance. Drive north along Scenic Drive until you reach the Pukematekeo Lookout carpark on your left. From there, a brief 1- to 2-minute walk uphill will provide a distant view of the falls.