Meeting of the Waters Scenic Reserve is near New Plymouth, rated 4.5 from 169 reviews. Two easy short walks through native forest, river access and picnic areas make it popular for families, swimmers and walkers, with a suspension bridge and swimming hole among the attractions. A good reserve serves multiple purposes at once. The best work for families with small children and serious walkers: short easy walks for a morning stroll, longer options for those with time. River access transforms a walk from exercise into experience, adds swimming, gives reason to linger. A family reserve close enough to town for a Sunday afternoon but feeling distant: that's the sweet spot. Native forest around a river, easy parking, picnic tables—basics that let the place work naturally. Meeting of the Waters does exactly that on the Waiwhakaiho River.