The Waiau Falls are on the Coromandel Peninsula, 7 km along The 309 Road from State Highway 25, with the turnoff 4 km south of Coromandel Town. There is car parking on the side of the road and a signposted 2-minute walk through the forest to view the Waiau River tumbling 6 metres over a rock face into a deep pool. The waterfall's shape is beautiful as the water spreads over a bulge in the rock face towards the base of the falls.
It is an easy hike down to the base of the pools, where swimming is popular. You can also climb down the river bank above the falls and access the top.
Note that you can’t presently park beside the nearby Waiau Kauri Grove Track. You have to walk one km east along the road from the waterfall parking to access this track on the left.
The Waterworks is a short distance along The 309 Road to the west of the falls.