Thunder Creek Falls
A waterfall about 28 metres high beside the Haast Pass road, a few minutes' walk through the forest. It is often visited on the same drive as the Blue Pools.
Thunder Creek Falls lies inside Mount Aspiring National Park, on the Haast Pass section of State Highway 6. Thunder Creek drops about 28 metres from the cliff face into the Makarora Valley. When the water is high, the roar can be heard through the trees. The car park is right beside the road. A flat forest track takes about 10 minutes return. It is free and open all day. It takes about 1 hour to drive from Wānaka (about 2.5 hours from Queenstown). It is usually visited with the Blue Pools, about 6 km to the north, and Fantail Falls as a stop on a half-day trip from Wānaka or on a West Coast self-drive. Sandflies are common in the mountains, so bring insect repellent. Petrol stations along the route are scarce.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Blue Pools
- Puzzling World
- That Wanaka Tree
- Wānaka Township & Lakefront
- Roys Peak Track
- Rob Roy Glacier Track
- Cardrona Bra Fence
- Cardrona Hotel