December 2012 – March 2013
Rainbow Falls is another example of a worthy sight that gets no publicity. It’s just outside Kerikeri and a place you can hike to in an hour or so from the famous Kerikeri Basin (link). We always meant to do the hike but never got around to it, and now our time here was running out. Looking at a map, it looked like we could drive to the falls from a neighborhood street. Sure enough, the street ended in a designated parking area with paths to the falls.
At the end of one path we were stunned to find falls worthy of a national park, surprisingly big with numerous overlooks. At the base of the falls is a beautiful trail that follows the river to the Kerikeri Basin. I couldn’t believe this isn’t a more famous site like the Kerikeri Basin nearby! We later talked to people who’ve lived in Kerikeri for years and have never seen Rainbow Falls. Unbelievable! -Cyndi
