Curtis Falls

Egmont National Park, North Island, New Zealand

About Curtis Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Curtis Falls was a diminutive waterfall (we’re guessing it’s about 5-8m tall) that Julie and I had some extra time to explore while we were spending a couple nights in New Plymouth.

We had a choice between visiting this waterfall or attempting the longer and more physically demanding trek to the much bigger Bells Falls.

Curtis_Falls_038_01062010 - Curtis Falls
Curtis Falls

Unfortunately with the changing weather situation on the slopes of Mt Taranaki, we couldn’t take chances with Bells Falls and we ultimately decided on doing Curtis.

Besides, it also gave us a chance at exploring the easterly face of the conical Mt Taranaki.

It would turn out that we had to go on quite a bit of a moderately strenuous hike to even see this waterfall, but we ultimately got more intimately connected with the native flora and terrain in this part of New Zealand.

Hiking the Curtis Falls – Undulating through two gullies

We began our hike from a well-signed car park near the so-called Mountain House (see directions below).

Curtis_Falls_002_01062010 - Signs near the car park where we started our hike to Curtis Falls
Signs near the car park where we started our hike to Curtis Falls

We noticed there was some signage about some kind of parasite called “Didymo”, which apparently could spread easily through New Zealand’s waterways.

It was the first time that we saw something like this in our travels throughout the country, and we wondered if it was only an issue on the slopes of Mt Taranaki.

In any case, small black flies were swarming us, but fortunately they didn’t seem to bite (unlike the reviled sandflies that we had encountered in much of Fiordland).

Anyhow, the trail initially descended down to Curtis Creek before we then embarked on a pretty long and persistent climb up a combination of steps and slopes.

Curtis_Falls_006_01062010 - Julie hiking within the lush terrain near the start of the track leading to Curtis Falls
Julie hiking within the lush terrain near the start of the track leading to Curtis Falls

Along this long stretch of bush tramping, we noticed some traps for stoats or other pests that preyed on endemic wildlife such as the flightless kiwis.

The traps seemed to contain broken eggs with spilled yolk as bait.

The trail then descended down into another gully before climbing once again.

After the apex of the second climb, the trail then descended to a bouldery stream on which Curtis Falls resided.

Curtis_Falls_012_01062010 - After the second climb on the track to Curtis Falls, Julie and I then had to descend this steep metal steps
After the second climb on the track to Curtis Falls, Julie and I then had to descend this steep metal steps

By this time, we had spent about 45 minutes of hiking from the trailhead to get here.

Hiking the Curtis Falls – Boulder Scrambling

Next, Julie and I then had to do some awkward boulder scrambling alongside and within Curtis Creek.

We could see Mt Taranaki barely and briefly showing itself through the thick cloud cover.

In fact, I’d imagine that on a finer day, this would be a particularly scenic part of the hike where the tip of Mt Taranaki would loom above us as we’d be struggling through the boulder field.

Curtis_Falls_014_01062010 - Julie on the boulder scramble leading to the Curtis Falls
Julie on the boulder scramble leading to the Curtis Falls

After another 15 minutes of this boulder scramble with a couple of stream crossings, we’d finally see the three segmented parallel drops of Curtis Falls across its wide span further ahead of us.

After a few minutes more of navigating through the boulder field, we ended the hike standing right up against the falls.

From this close to Curtis Falls, we could closely examine the hard rock underlying the falls as well as the moss growing from the moisture of Curtis Creek.

After having our fill of Curtis Falls, we then had to go through the same obstacles that we endured to get here.

Curtis_Falls_060_01062010 - Julie standing in front of Curtis Falls, which also provided a sense of scale
Julie standing in front of Curtis Falls, which also provided a sense of scale

That meant getting through the awkward boulder scramble, and then going up and down the trail twice before finally returning to the car park.

Was Curtis Falls Worth The Effort?

Overall, we had spent about 2.5 hours away from the car.

It seemed like we went through a lot of trouble for such a small waterfall.

However, we learned that there was a contrast between busy and popular attractions (usually for bigger waterfalls) and quiet and peaceful attractions (usually for the more obscure smaller waterfalls).

Curtis_Falls_074_01062010 - On the return hike from Curtis Falls, we still had to endure the undulations so it was just as strenuous on the way back as on the way there
On the return hike from Curtis Falls, we still had to endure the undulations so it was just as strenuous on the way back as on the way there

Clearly, Curtis Falls belonged to the latter category.

I’d imagine that the trouble it took to do this hike would have been more offset by the scenic allure of Mt Taranaki under better weather conditions than when we did it.

Personally, I still found the experience fulfilling, but it would have been nice had the conical volcano shown itself, especially when we scrambled the boulder field.

Authorities

Curtis Falls resides in Mt Egmont National Park near Stratford in the Taranaki region of North Island, New Zealand. It is administered under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: egmont, national park, stratford, taranaki, north island, new zealand, waterfall, new plymouth, mountain house, curtis creek



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.