Whisky Falls

Whisky Falls is a nearly 40 m cascade on the western side of Lake Rotoiti, with moss and ferns covering the damp rock walls. I’d make the walk for the waterfall and the forest together; it’s a poor pick if you only have time for a quick roadside stop. The regular walk takes about three hours, so give it a proper half day.

The route moves through mānuka and kānuka before reaching beech forest, then crosses shingle fans and an unbridged stream. A short spur leads to the falls and a rocky viewpoint. Water at the crossing can be higher after rain, and the rocks around the falls can be slippery, so take care on the final approach. Dogs aren’t allowed, and there are no rubbish facilities; pack out everything you bring.

This waterfall is a leftover from the glaciers that shaped the Travers valley. Tributary glaciers once entered the main valley at a higher level; when the ice retreated, those side valleys were left hanging above it. The falls have gradually worn down as water erodes the top and deposits fans below. In 1995, a large section of rock face fell from the valley to the base of the falls.

The name recalls an illicit whisky still whose remains were found here in the 1880s. It’s a small piece of local history attached to a much older landscape.

From the rocky viewpoint, keep the narrow white drop in frame with the green, fern- and moss-lined cliff around it. That wider view gives the falls a sense of height and shows the forest setting.