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Shine Falls

Heays Access Road, Hastings District, Hawkes Bay

Shine Falls is currently closed - see Department of Conservation website for more information

Rising 58 metres, Shine Falls is Hawke's Bay's most spectacular waterfall.

Shine Falls is roughly a 1.5 hours drive away from Napier, and the last 12km is gravel road - but it's worth the trip!

The Shine Falls track is a 1.5 hour return walk, and leads to the base of the waterfall. The walk passes through farmland and beneath towering sandstone bluffs. There are some uphill sections on the track as well as stream crossings, but they are all bridged and easy. Low-land forest includes kanuka, kawakawa, kowhai and titoki.

Getting there

From Napier, head north-east on SH2 and follow it for the next 43.5km until you see the 'Shine Falls' sign, where you need to turn left into Matahorua Rd. After 11km turn left into Heays Access Rd. Follow this road for 6.5 km until you reach a DOC car park, on your left, with a picnic table (no toilets). 

For some Shine Falls inspiration, check out #shinefalls on Instagram.

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