Hunua falls

Part of the Hunua Ranges, the Hunua Falls area has a large, flat area with picnic tables, and toilets only 10m from the large car park. The Hunua Falls ‘pool’ looks a relatively safe place to swim, however looks are deceiving. There are environmental dangers here that are not replicated in many other aquatic environments, and there have been a number of drowning deaths and near miss incidents in the Falls ‘pool’. It is not recommended that you swim at the Hunua Falls due to: Deep water – 17 metres at the deepest with sudden drop offs, Cold water – which can be below 15.1◦c, Fresh water – which is not as buoyant as saltwater, Aerated water – at the bottom of the falls further reducing buoyancy, Slippery rocks - both submerged and on the face of the falls, Murky water – reducing visibility of submerged objects, Flooding can cause dramatic increases in water levels and flows, No lifeguard service,