Follow the Curtis Falls Track from the car park at Ngāti Ruanui Stratford Mountain House, turning right down steps into the valley of the Te Pōpō Stream.

Steps and ladders up the other side lead steeply uphill before dropping sharply down a steel ladder into the gorge of the Manganui River. Follow the river bed, rock hopping upstream, crossing the river several times, before reaching the base of the falls.

Take care and supervise children as there are steep drop offs, particularly if you go off track and climb up the side of the falls. The track upstream to the falls can be impassable in flood.

Return downstream to the track junction, turning right to go back to the car park, or turning left to head to Maketawa Hut (2 hr to 2 hr 30 min from the junction). 

The track to Maketawa Hut can be overgrown. It crosses several unbridged streams that can be impassable after heavy rainfall.

In Stratford, turn off State Highway 3 into Pembroke Road and follow this up the mountain for 14.5 km to Ngāti Ruanui Stratford Mountain House.

Be ready for changeable weather

Taranaki Maunga has changeable and unpredictable weather. Check the forecast and carry enough clothing and equipment to ensure you are able to cope with any type of weather, at any time of the year.

Snow, high rainfall and storm damage can make tracks impassable.

Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki weather forecast – NIWA website 

• Unbridged streams on this track may be impassable after heavy rain.
• This track has significant fall risks. Take care and supervise children round the waterfall and off the staircases and steel ladder down into the Manganui Gorge.
• Track erosion around streams may be present.
• Expect overgrown and steep and slippery terrain in places. Navigaton may be difficult.