When you first see the Waitonga Falls from the Waitonga Falls Track on Mount Ruapehu, they don’t look like much. Just a gentle stream of water over an impressive cliff face about 100 metres upstream. But you can’t see the several small but very pretty waterfalls that cascade into the large amphitheatre below the cliffs. The combination of water flowing over green moss and lichen, plus the mix of coloured rock, is stunning.
So, take the extra time and work your way up the stream to the large boulders. To the right, you will see the first of the smaller falls with a stunning green backdrop. Then, work your way around the boulders, with their small waterfall, to get into the amphitheatre. At least three streams enter from different directions, including the main one you can see from the track.
Access to the track is about 15 km up Ohakune Mountain Road.
