Kitekite Falls
Piha's signature waterfall walk — a multi-tiered cascade with crystal-clear pools, accessed via an easy, family-friendly bush track from Glenesk Road. The most popular walk in the village and rightly so.
About
Kitekite Falls is the walk most visitors do first, and the one most visitors send their friends to do after they've been. The track winds through native bush from the Glenesk Road end of the village out to the falls themselves — a multi-tiered cascade falling over mossy rock into a series of clear pools at the base, the kind of place that earns its photographs.
The walk is generally easy and well-formed, suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Allow about 1 hour return for the standard route. There are options to extend by climbing up alongside the falls to the top tier, which is steeper and more demanding but rewards with a different perspective on the cascade.
In summer, the pool at the base is a swimming spot — cold, dark, and the right thing to be doing on a hot day after the walk in. In winter, the volume of water coming over the falls is dramatically higher and the whole place feels like a different walk.
This is also the obvious walk to start with for anyone visiting Piha for the first time who wants the bush experience without committing to a full day on the trails.
Trailhead:
Glenesk Road, Piha
Difficulty:
Easy (includes a number of stairs); Moderate (extension to top of falls)
Distance:
~2.7 km return
Duration:
45 minutes – 1 hour return for the standard walk
Falls:
Multi-tiered, ~40m high
Surface:
Formed bush track with stairs; kauri dieback boot-cleaning stations at entry
Suitable for:
Families, most fitness levels, dogs (check current rules)
Best for:
First-time Piha visitors, families, swimmers in summer, photographers, anyone wanting an easy bush walk to a real waterfall
Important Note:
Track status can change; verify before setting out. Swimming at the base pool is at your own risk; cold year-round and depth varies.
