Haruru Falls

With a name like Haruru - which means 'big noise' - you can expect a big adventure at Haruru Falls. Cascading in a horseshoe shape, the waterfall stretches around 15 metres in width and approximately 5 metres in height. If you're looking to combine a little adventure with your visit to the Bay of Islands region, then the Haruru Falls walk is an ideal starting point. Beginning at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and following the Waitangi River, this trail journeys through native bushland and a mangrove forest before reaching the rushing falls. The trail is around a 5.5 kilometre journey and takes around an hour and 10 minutes to complete one way. Walkers are advised to return on the same trail as the road to Paihia isn't suitable for pedestrians. There's also a popular Māori legend about Waitangi River and the taniwha (water monster) that lives in the lagoon below the cascading falls. Back in the 1800s the area banks were lined with over 100 Māori villages making this a place of cultural significance.