Beyond the Windows Walk lies the gorge’s reward walk: out to the Dickey Flat waterfall, with its deep natural swimming hole, and on through native bush to the pretty, remote Dickey Flat campground. It’s a bit more of a commitment than the Windows Walk loop, and on a warm day it’s worth every step. The whole gorge is about 25 minutes from your Waihi Beach base.
Two ways to do it
You can tackle it from either end. Walk in from the Windows Walk and carry on toward Dickey Flat, roughly an hour and a half each way, or drive to the Dickey Flat campground, park there, and walk back the other way to the waterfall and on to the windows. Either direction works, so pick whichever suits your day.
One thing to know before you choose your footwear: the track can be wet and muddy in places even in the height of summer, so leave the good shoes at the bach and wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.
The waterfall and swimming hole
This is the bit the teenagers will thank you for. The Dickey Flat waterfall drops into a deep natural swimming hole, and it’s a magnet for kids old enough to be brave: they scramble up the rocks and leap straight in. There’s even a short historic tunnel at the edge of the pool that the kids duck through to reach the far side of the waterfall, before jumping off the rocks back into the water. Wide, smooth rocks around the edge make a perfect spot to spread a picnic and watch the action.
It’s popular, so on a hot weekend it can get busy. And while it’s a wonderful spot, treat it with the respect any river swimming hole deserves: check the water after heavy rain, when levels and currents can change fast, keep a close eye on younger ones, and let the kids judge their own jumps rather than egging each other on. With a bit of common sense, it’s one of the best afternoons the gorge offers.
Onward to the campground
If you want to push on to Dickey Flat campground, keep following the path through the tunnel. This one has pools of water along it, so expect wet shoes. From there the track leads you over two swing bridges with beautiful views before opening out at the campground itself.
It’s a genuinely lovely, remote spot: a grassy clearing under the trees with an open edge right on the river, ideal for a picnic. There are basic, campground-style toilets. Best of all, the river swimming here is a gentler proposition than the waterfall, wide, open, and slow-flowing, which makes it a far better bet for younger children than the jumping rocks upstream.
Who it suits, and what to leave behind
This is a walk for families with kids who can manage the distance, for teenagers, and for anyone after a swim and a remote picnic. It is not, however, suitable for pushchairs or bikes, none of the tracks between the Windows Walk and Dickey Flat campground are. If you’ve got little ones, a front pack or back carrier is the way to bring them.
What to bring
Sturdy shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, a torch or headlamp for the tunnel, togs and a towel, plenty of water, and a picnic. Add insect repellent (there are wasps about in the warmer months), plus sunscreen and a hat for the open stretches.
A perfect day trip from Waihi Beach
Pair it with the Windows Walk on the way in, or the flat, easy Historic Walkway if you’d rather a gentler day, and see our full One Fyfe guide to Karangahake Gorge for the whole picture.
One Fyfe Beach Bach is your base, a short flat walk from Waihi Beach and an easy 25 minutes from the gorge. Check availability and book here.