Dawson Falls, at the road end at the top of Manaia Road in Egmont National Park, sits beside a power station whose generator is one of the oldest in continuous operation in New Zealand. The road end is at 902 metres, about 14 km from Kaponga and 30 minutes' drive from Stratford. Walks start here, including a one-way track to Stratford Plateau that takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, the Kapuni Loop through mountain rainforest, and the Power Station Track. The visitor centre has displays, and Konini Lodge offers booked backpacker-style beds. The DOC site says the lodge and café at the road end are closed during redevelopment.
Visitors praise the forest walk and the waterfall, which one called perfect for photos. The first part of the path suits a pram, then the ground becomes uneven. One visitor said the car park fills up, and that a space often comes free when others leave. When there is snow and ice on the mountain, access to Syme Hut and the summit needs an ice axe, crampons, a helmet and alpine experience. For advice, the North Taranaki Visitor Centre is on +64 6 756 0990. Our pick in Taranaki for a short forest walk to a waterfall.