Huka Falls

This was the most stunning place to visit. The colour of the water was like Gatorade, never seen blue like it and the flow and pressure of the water was intimidating. Watching people go down on kayaks was crazyyyyy so worth a visit. 2 mins from carpark

This is hands down the best “quick stop” attractio, a perfect for a bathroom break and a short walk, yet far from ordinary. The powerful, rushing water crashes and churns so violently that it traps huge amounts of air, which is why the water appears a stunning snow-white colour. If you’re lucky, you might even see solo kayakers plunging down the falls. Watching them in person really makes you appreciate how incredibly brave they are. An easy stop that leaves a big impression.

Visiting Huka Falls was absolutely stunning! The powerful rushing water and vibrant blue color are incredible to see up close. The boat ride experience (Huka Falls Jet) was the highlight — fast, thrilling, and takes you right near the falls for an unforgettable view. The guides were friendly and made it even more enjoyable. A must-do when in Taupō — perfect mix of natural beauty and adventure!

Beautiful! We did the ~6km return walk from the car park closer to town and it was worth it. Lovely walk and views of the river, undulating in parts but otherwise easy (well maintained track).

We parked a short distance away and had a nice bush walk to see the falls, about 15mins, saved us the trouble of finding closer parking. Jet Boat ride gave a fantastic view too!

Amazing view of the river and waterfall! The waters is so blue and clean that it has a turquoise hue to it! It literally reminds me of Maldives, but its even better! I love nature and i love anything with water, be it beaches, rivers, lakes, oceans etc. But this is on another level! I love hearing the sound of the water rushing down towards the river, and the water is really damn blue. I captured a few photos of my dad and brother, the background with the water just stands out so vibrantly! I would definitely visit again if i have the chance! And i definitely recommend this place to nature lovers!

Huka Falls is absolutely stunning and a must-see when visiting the Taupō area. The sheer power and colour of the water rushing through the narrow gorge is incredible to watch. The viewing platforms are well maintained and easy to access, making it great for all ages. Plenty of photo opportunities and a beautiful spot to stop, take in nature, and enjoy the surroundings. Highly recommended.

The Huka Falls jet experience was great. The jet brought us very close to the fall for taking photos. And the 360 degree turns were super fun!

Definitely worth a stop. Parking is easy and the walk to the falls short. The speed and amount of water tumbling down the chute was mesmerizing. It was a popular stop for many people. We also did the 3k walk up the river. Not a ton of viewing areas of the water along the way but it was a well maintained trail and not very difficult (just a few hills). The end of the trail hosts a cafe and a nice sitting area. Great stop.

Well worth a visit We detoured to view this great natural wonder If one loves nature, this is a must see natural wonder Highly recommend

These are pretty falls but the tourist infrastructure built up around this place is absurd for how small these falls actually are. There is a boat ride at the bottom of the falls and helicopter rides available from various venders to go up to see these falls. While I wouldn't want to go over these falls in a boat, the drop is only 11 meteres / 35 feet. It's not like you're visiting Niagara Falls in Canada / USA or Victoria Falls in Zambia. It takes about 10 minutes to see it all at the overlook bridge. (Most of the trails were closed due to flooding and (Hurricane) Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle. There is ample parking but I didn't notice any restrooms. Visited February 2023.

While I wouldn't consider this as a "must see", it was a very nice place for my husband and I to get out, hike, see the falls and stretch our legs on our drive from Auckland to Wellington. Luckily the damn released as we were there so we could see that drastic change in the water flow. That is not something to take lightly- I don't even think a highly skilled white water rafter could tackle it. nice trails of varying lengths to see (plenty of silver ferns- please don't pick them and ruin it for others!) and a little shop on-site to buy snacks or use the restroom (paid).

This is a pretty little viewing area that is easy to access and definitely worth a quick peek. There's a convenient parking lot and the walk to the bridge overlooking the falls is just right off the lot, so it's a cinch to get to. The falls are really pretty with a beautiful view of the river and exceptionally blue water. Huka falls is relatively small but has powerful force behind it. There isn't much else to see in the area so it doesn't take long to check it out unless you just enjoy gazing at the water and listening to the sound of the falls. We also walked a path down the river which was quite short and offered a different view of the falls. We noted a pretty long running or hiking trail that went through the area but it was of a distance that would take a little more of a time commitment and seemed to head up into the foresty areas. There is no cost to park or fees to view the falls. There are some public restrooms that were pay toilets but otherwise it's a free and worthy little stop as your touring around Taupo.

This was another one of the stops, I planned to make as we drove through the north island. I figured it was just a slight pit stop. NOPE. This thing is awesome, and by no means is it a hidden gem. It get's packed with tourists. The falls themselves are mighty strong. Fierce and a beautiful sight. We had just recently visited Niagra falls in Canada/USA, so we weren't as blown away. But it is a must visit.

HOLY FREAKING SH*T THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. Not to be dramatic but seriously this is a cannot-miss place if you are 1. in New Zealand and/or 2. into photography/instagram. I got some insaaaane photos from here as the color of the water is SO icy blue and the greenery surrounding it makes a fabulous contrast. Seriously one of the best outdoor photo shoots I've had in a while! Aside from the photography mumbo jumbo, I am in love with Huka Falls because: 1. it's free 2. it's gorgeous and 3. it's easily accessible! No difficult hikes to get to this view. The viewing area is convenient and easy, there is no fee, and if you have time and are dressed properly, you can take a few hikes or walks from the falls ranging from 1-2 hours. I'd totally recommend coming here if you're traveling the North Island!

There is a great outlook off the side of the road that has an overlook of these magnificent falls! The hue of the translucent turquoise water is just incredible and I highly recommend driving down and hiking to get a closer look! There are jet boats and other water activities near the falls and will take you on the water. I did not do any of them, but they are available and look like fun. Whatever you do, do not pass these falls by!

A natural wonder you must see !!! Best part it's free !!! You can walk or bike a path or just stop at the front and look out over the awe striking river and falls and snap some killer pics

Huka Falls , Huka in Maori means Foam. the blue water in huge amount in high speed looks pearl clear n like foam , that how maori people decide to give this name . This is a quick stop from Lake Taupo. Out of NZ free tourist attraction , this is one of them . if you think NZ is full of fresh water lakes and water falls , so much so they overwhelm you sometimes , this fall is special due to it color and speed.

This is one of the must see's in Taupo and it's free! It truly is mesmerizing to see the powerful forces of nature of these falls. Like everyone says it's not grand in size but more so in force and magnificent icy blue color. Parking is free and Huka Falls is a super short walk from the car park/parking lot, honestly a minute if that. The park or well parking lot closes at 5:30 pm or 6pm so make sure you get your car out before then or park it outside the gate after hours to prevent from getting your vehicle locked in. It's about a 25 minute drive from the center of town by taxi. I wouldn't recommend riding a bike from center of town as I did not see any clear bike paths, just winding narrow roads up hills. Although I could be wrong. I think there was a walking path that would have eventually led us down to the town center but my sister and I were low on time and the sun was about to go down so we called a taxi to take us back instead. Ps make sure you walk all the way down to get a Better view of the falls, see it from a jetboat which isn't free but fun!!

This is a quick stop from Lake Taupo. it's really cool to see the amount of water. Especially coming from California, where there is a drought going on, the amount of blue water was exciting.

Amazing experience unlike anything I have experienced. Highly recommend to visit. Relatively safe but will keep a eye on little kids!

Amazing, beautiful place to take a walk along the path and see the falls. Recommend wearing good footwear.

Oddly enough, Huka Falls was not really on our New Zealand itinerary even though we had planned a stop at Taupo. And we're so glad we decided to make a quick stop. You'll hear it before you see it. The rushing water is so incredibly loud, and when you finally see it, you see why. The color is also quite surreal. I think we could stand there for hours just watching the water rush. Or maybe just until you need to pee. We didn't have any trouble finding parking when we went in November, but I can imagine this would be dramatically different during the peak seasons, especially with tour buses stopping there. I do recommend also walking down the path a little bit to get different views of the falls.

One of the few free NZ tourist attractions has parking within walking distance haha. The falls are quite mesmerising to look at from the viewing platform, where 220,000litres of water rush into the river per second showcasing the hydro power this falls is known for. Also managed to catch the jetboat bringing their passengers for a ride and it looks like fun! Nice colour to the water too. There are walking trails for those keen to explore.

Aratiatia rapids: Northeast of the falls. My interest in this area is that it was a filming site for the second The Hobbit movie. The river itself is gorgeous and watching the dam open and riverbed flood is pretty cool but if it's too crowded it might not be worth it. There are some good walking and bike paths from this area down to the Huka Falls though. Free but limited parking. There are three vantage points from which to watch the release. I recommend the second one which is about an 8-10 minute walk from the parking lot. You'll need good shoes bc this viewing area is on unfinished rock and can be very slippery. The dam only opens 3-4 times a day (10am, 12pm and 2pm all year plus 4pm in summer) so you need to plan in advance.

Beautiful, majestic falls. It's great whether you're looking at it from a distance, from the side or right in front of it. Huka Jet Falls comes pretty close but I prefer how the Huka River Cruise can get you even closer. Don't go to Huka and Taupo without visiting the Huka Falls.