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Wairere Falls

Wairere Falls from road, New Zealand
Wairere Falls from road / Ravisha Wijesinghe. CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  In short

It is considered that Wairere Falls are the tallest in Northern Island.

4.2 out of 10 stars 41.8%

GPS coordinates
37.7347 S 175.8798 E
Location, address
Australia and Oceania, Polynesia, New Zealand, North Island, Waikato, Kaimai Escarpment, some 15 km north-east from Matamata
Height
153 m

Map of the site

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WorldYellow In detail

Wairere Falls, New Zealand
Wairere Falls / Floyd Wilde. CC BY-SA 2.0

Waterfall has formed on the Wairere stream, which falls over an interesting geological feature – Okauia (Ōkauia) fault – a fracture in Earth’s crust. Fault divides Kaimai Range to the east and Hauraki Plains to the west, the latter still are sinking 2 mm every year.

Water falls over uneven, nearly vertical wall formed by volcanic rock.

As the Wairere stream reaches this fault, water falls down almost vertically. Waterfall has two cascades – the upper one is higher. Information regarding the height of each cascade is differing – upper cascade is 80 or 91 m tall, lower: 73 or 60 m tall.

Often winds catch the falls in upper cascade, rising the water upwards.

View from Wairere Falls to Hauraki Plains, New Zealand
View from Wairere Falls to Hauraki Plains / C. Rodliffe, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 3.0

Nature trail leads up to the top of waterfall with beautiful view over the Hauraki Plains.

References

  1. NIWA – Climate Data

WorldYellow Linked articles

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Virginia Falls / Paul Gierszewski, Wikimedia Commons / public domain

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Champagne Pool / Photo by Mehlführer C, Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-2.5

Wonders of New Zealand

The island nation of New Zealand hosts some of the most impressive natural attractions in the world. The number of attractions is divided almost equally between two large islands – the South and North islands.

Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound. / Bernard Spragg. NZ, Flickr / public domain

Wonders of Polynesia

Although the landmass of Polynesia is small, the charm and special beauty of this region are some of the most impressive on our planet. These islands are endowed with lush and beautiful nature, with warm oceans and friendly people representing a distinct culture. Polynesia is very rich in both natural and cultural landmarks and many of them are unique.

WorldYellow Recommended books

A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls


Whether you’re on holiday from abroad, or a Kiwi looking for new places in your own backyard, you now have a way to truly experience New Zealand’s scenic diversity. With A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls, nature lovers can find the country’s most spectacular waterfalls in landscapes as varied as serene rainforests, awe-inspiring alpine mountains, mythical fiords, colorful volcanic moonscapes, and soothing sandy beaches.

New Zealand’s North Island Secret Travel Guide


Have you ever bought a travel book only to be left more confused on what to do than before because the book assumed you were traveling for months and not weeks?
This is not that book! Focusing on awesome scenery, and activities that locals take their visitors, this book will help you discover sights and experiences that will make your trip to New Zealand both unique and fantastic.


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