Waipunga Falls Viewpoint
Waipunga Falls Viewpoint sits at 2,195 feet along the Thermal Explorer Highway, facing 150 degrees toward the south-southeast. The land drops 269 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, giving a steep foreground below the viewing area. Two peaks are visible from this point: Wharangi, 5.9 miles away at 2,920 feet, and Ōtangihia, further off at 10.5 miles and 2,766 feet, both lying in the south-southeast direction. Daylight hours vary through the year, with sunrise at 05:45 and sunset at 20:39 around the December solstice, compared to a 07:33 sunrise and 16:59 sunset at the June solstice. The equinox periods fall between these extremes, with sunrise near 06:05–07:17 and sunset near 18:10–19:28. This stop follows Opal Pool along the route and precedes Kohua Poharu Mud Pools for those continuing on the byway.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Wharangi2,920 ftsouth-southeast · 5.9 mi
- Ōtangihia2,766 ftsouth-southeast · 10.5 mi
Light
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:17 | 19:28 | 18:53 |
| June solstice | 07:33 | 16:59 | 16:17 |
| September equinox | 06:05 | 18:10 | 17:35 |
| December solstice | 05:45 | 20:39 | 19:59 |
Local time (Pacific/Auckland). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
Take the scenic way to Waipunga Falls Viewpoint.
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How high is Waipunga Falls Viewpoint?
Waipunga Falls Viewpoint sits at about 2,195 feet (669 m).
What can you see from Waipunga Falls Viewpoint?
From Waipunga Falls Viewpoint: Wharangi (SSE, 5.9 mi); Ōtangihia (SSE, 11 mi).
What is the next lookout after Waipunga Falls Viewpoint?
Kohua Poharu Mud Pools is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Waipunga Falls Viewpoint.
Drive to Waipunga Falls Viewpoint with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Locals make it Verified.
Waipunga Falls Viewpoint — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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