Karamatura Falls

"Hit the carpark just after sunset. Managed to get to the waterfall and back within 40 minutes just as it got really dark. Tracks are all boarded. The side trail that turns it into a circuit is current closed. Small stream crossing, would recommend enclosed/waterproof shoes if you want to keep dry."

"Has a big car park with toilets. Walk starts off nice and easy. Once you get to the bench seat around halfway, the walk gets a little harder with steps and incline walking. It's only around 30mins of walking to see the waterfall so it's worth the walk."

"Great walk to the falls, takes about an hour return from the Karamatura carpark. The walk mainly follows the stream with lots of opportunities to take photos, little bit of stream crossing on the way but not deep to get the shoes wet."

"Karamatura Falls is located on the southern border of the Waitakere Ranges. The fall is a narrow but reasonably rich water column for its parameter, with a height of about 15- 20 metres. This waterfall is part of Karamatura Stream which has a series of smaller cascading waterfalls nearby as well. There are no clear 'waterfall' sign boards at the turn-off of the track next to Huia Settler's Museum, so you need to turn right on to the Karamatura loop track road and then drive about 100m to the car park. From there, you can take the Karamatura loop track - either one, to proceed about a two and a half km distance to the waterfall. Be aware that although it is about 2.5 km [one way] 90% well maintained track, there are over a thousand steps to climb, some very steep, so it is NOT an 'easy' track for everyone, as some have misinterpreted in reviews here. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, a reasonable level of fitness and experience is needed to do this track. There are records that some turning back halfway through, because they thought it was an easier walk. Also, crossing the small stream just before the waterfall needs very good non-slippery track shoes to do the balancing act treading on the boulders to cross. It is about 4-5km track if you do the loop, but due to the steepness at some places, you may do it slow, so it takes about 3-4 hrs to do the return loop leisurely and comfortably. Anyway, it is a worthy hike to be frank! The track runs through a lush green vegetation all the way so you will come across beautiful birds, plants, trees and clear water streams, some with little cascading waterfalls. Part of the track runs on the old horse coach track which was used to transport huge tree trunks in early last century and you can see a decaying 'sample' displayed closer to the start of the track."