11m high, extremely powerful, turquoise-color, Huka Falls is located on the Waikato River, just in 10 minutes’ drive from Taupo. The waterfall is one of the most visited natural attractions in New Zealand, probably due to the water flow of 300,000 liters per second (79252 gallons per second).
Official Website
Hike duration
10 minutes
Walking and driving instructions
Huka Falls is roughly a 10-minutes’ drive away from Taupo. The road surface is always sealed.
From Taupo follow Thermal Explorer Highway, then turn right into Huka Falls Rd. There is a huge carpark on Huka Falls Rd with toilets and quite a big picnic area. Carpark hours: Winter - 8am to 5.30pm; Summer - 8am to 6pm.
An easy 10 minutes return Huka Falls Walk leads to the waterfall’s lookouts. The track is suitable for people of all abilities.
There is one more waterfall's viewing platform on the river. Go back to your car and follow Loop Rd until you reach the lookout.
Waterfall height
11 meters
Waterfall video
Waterfall location
Hike difficulty