Exploring William Wright Falls
William Wright Falls is located northwest of Orokawa Bay, near Waihi Beach. The falls have a modest water flow but are 28 metres high, with the water dropping over a colourful, photogenic rocky cliff face. The walk is moderately challenging, as it can be overgrown by scrub.
Navigating the Track
The track to the falls can be overgrown, with tree-fall and rocks in the stream. This may make it difficult to follow at times. However, the path generally follows the stream, and with some orange markers, it is hard to get lost. After approximately 30 minutes of walking, the path veers towards a side stream to the south. From this point, the falls are just a couple of minutes away.
It is not safe to take this track in heavy or consistent rain as the stream can flood.
How to Get There
To reach William Wright Falls, start at the north end of Waihi Beach and follow the 40-minute track to the south end of Orokawa Bay. Continue along the bay, and at the north end, you will see the turnoff to the falls. From there, follow the path inland along the Orokawa Stream. Allow about 80 minutes one way from Waihi Beach.
If you have time, continue to Homunga Bay (another hour), a lesser-known gem on the southeast coast of Coromandel. If you can arrange a pickup, a shorter way out is to hike from Homunga up a steep hill to Ngatitangata Road.
