Rainbow Falls (Waianiwaniwa)

The Rainbow Falls, Māori name Waianiwaniwa, (Waters of the Rainbow), are a single-drop waterfall located on the Kerikeri River near Kerikeri in New Zealand.

Unlike most New Zealand waterfalls which are created by the erosion of soft rock, the Rainbow Falls are sited on a hard basalt layer of rock beside softer mudstone. The falls were formed when water eroded the mudstone. The 27 metre waterfall is popular with tourists and is regularly photographed from an adjoining Department of Conservation area.

The Rainbow Falls Walk is along a track which takes about 10 minutes to traverse to connect to the Kerikeri River Track which is about 3.5 km long and takes about 1.5 hours to walk. It leads to the Kerikeri Basin where Kerikeri's old buildings are sited, the Stone Store, Mission House and St James Church, plus Rewa's Village and historic Kororipo Pa. The track follows the north bank of the River and passes through kiwi habitat and regenerating native trees such as stands of young kauri and totara.

See also

  • New Zealand Waterfalls
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Ulya
7 December 2015
You can go for a swim, climb into the cave behind the waterfall or simple stand there and enjoy nature.
Carol Fung
7 November 2015
Gorgeous waterfall! Hope you have good walking shoes for the hike!
Nicole Dahlkemper
13 January 2018
very beautiful and good track around the waterfall.
JK
12 November 2017
It takes 10 mins to walk from the car park
Bart
14 January 2014
Go for a swim under the waterfall!
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Map
1km from Kerikeri Walkway, Kerikeri 0295, New Zealand Get directions
Fri 8:00 AM–Noon
Sat 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Sun 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Mon 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tue 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Wed 9:00 AM–9:00 PM

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