Lower Fairy Falls is a bush waterfall walk in Henderson Valley, west Auckland, rated 4.6 from 63 reviews, with visitors praising the forest scenery and the peaceful spot by the falls. Access is managed through Auckland Council, whose website carries current track details.
Waterfall walks reward a little planning. Bush tracks in Auckland's west are steep and often slippery after rain, so grippy footwear and water for the climb back up matter as much as the falls themselves. Check the council's track pages before setting out, as paths in the Waitākere ranges close at times for maintenance and kauri dieback protection. Popular falls are quietest early; crowds tend to build mid-morning.
At Lower Fairy Falls, go before ten and the 669 steps down and back up are repaid with waterfalls and forest nearly to yourself.