Discover Dawson Falls
Located on the southeast side of Mount Taranaki in Te Papakura-o-Taranaki, Dawson Falls Track is a beautiful destination. The short track leads you to a stunning 16-metre waterfall, a popular visit for those exploring the area. The walk begins at Dawson Falls Visitor Centre at the top of Manaia Road, where there is fabulous views of the mountain on a clear day.
Exploring the Track and Waterfall
Starting from the car park next to the visitor centre at 900 metres above sea level, you can choose to walk back down the southwest side of the loop track or along Manaia Road for a few minutes. The loop walk allows you to spend more time immersed in the stunning montane rainforest.
The montane rainforest is dominated by kāmahi, tawa, and tree ferns such as mamaku and ponga, all thriving in the area’s high rainfall and fertile volcanic soils. Dense moss, liverworts, and epiphytes blanket the tree trunks and forest floor, creating a strikingly green, almost primeval atmosphere. These are classic cloud forest features at mid-altitude (around 900–1,200 metres), with mist, filtered light, and a rich understory of ferns, kiekie, and horopito. The forest is also home to a variety of native birds, such as tūī, korimako (bellbird), and pīwakawaka (fantail), making the walk both botanically and acoustically rich, especially earlier in the day.
Upon reaching Dawson Falls, you have the option to loop back through the forest alongside Kapuni Stream, which feeds the waterfall. You can also clamber down to the stream above the falls and access the waterfall from the top.
How to Get There
From Stratford, take Opunake Road west across farmland below the south side of Mount Taranaki. At the intersection of Manaia Road, turn north and continue until you reach the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre and car park at the end of the road, high on the side of the mountain. This road is sealed but narrow as you climb up the mountain. It is generally open year-round. The drive takes 26 minutes and is 23 km. From New Plymouth, it is 60 minutes and 63 km, and from Hawera, it is 40 minutes and 41 km.
From the visitor centre, you can also embark on the Wilkie Pools Loop and Ridge Loop. The Ridge Loop is a chance to experience the enchanting Goblin Forest, an exceptional feature of the Mount Taranaki rainforest.
