Wairere Falls is a short walk to a waterfall in Whakatāne, a few minutes from the town centre and car park. The track winds through moss-covered rocks and tree roots, and large round boulders form natural pools and cascading water along the way. Visitors describe it as an easy, flat walk of about two minutes, and one reviewer called it perfect for families. One person found it very quiet at around 8.30 in the morning and called the waterfall a pretty detour. Picnics and a relaxing atmosphere come up often, and there is a picnic bench at the site. Parking is limited to a handful of spaces, as one visitor noted.
The falls have long been part of the town's story. Their water once powered a local flax and flour mill, and it mattered to Māori and the early European settlers as a water source. Our pick in Whakatāne for a quiet morning walk with the family.