Kitekite Falls in Auckland were on my New Zealand bucket list for ages and I decided to start the New Year and decade with a walk and an icy cleanse. Up early on New Year’s Day…I put on my bikini, walking clothes and shoes and made my way to Piha.
A lot of the walking tracks in Waitakere Ranges are currently closed due to the Kauri Die Back disease however some of the tracks including the Kitekite Track are slowly reopening however many are still closed to stop the spread of the disease.
Piha is a tourist and locals favourite…the glorious black sand beaches and wild waves are a photographers paradise regardless of the weather.
I headed straight the Kitekite Falls, taking my time at the cleaning stations to make sure my shoes were clean as I had walked in the Hunua Ranges the day before.
The walk starts on a boardwalk…
…and then drifts off onto an easy track through New Zealand native bush…
…the trees creating beautiful canopies which kept the track shaded…
…the track is nestled against a little stream which adds to the peaceful atmosphere.
Arriving early meant there weren’t many others on the track and when I did pass someone, I wished them a Happy New Year (yes mama, I talked to strangers and survived!)…a few stairs here and there and an incline or two…these are all good for the soul…and your bottom!
Arriving at the bottom of the Kitekite Falls…a few tourists were taking an early morning dip…
…but many were just enjoying the beauty of the Kitekite waterfall in the Waitakere’s. If you’re wishing to do the loop then you’ll have to walk across some slippery rocks however with some careful footing you should survive the experience…I did and I’m very clumsy and tall!
I decided to walk to the top of the falls for my icy dip….
…up a lot of stairs…it’s a ten minute walk and then you’re in your own little bit of paradise.
The views over the New Zealand bush are gorgeous to say the least…
…beautiful clean water and lush forest…Pure New Zealand!
There were only a couple of souls at the top and at one point I had this view all to myself…
…stripping off, I did take a dip and holy moly, my nipples were still erect 12 hours later for the experience!
I took a bikini selfie to document the experience (and also to prove to a certain person that I did take an icy dip!)…
…I felt that I achieved something rather grand all by myself…I’d done a walk that I had wanted to do but had talked myself out of numerous times in 2019 due to health reasons, I wore a bikini (my first bikini in over a decade…I bought it from here), I’ve accepted my body with all its various curves and blemishes and I went for a swim at the top of the waterfall which I didn’t think I would have the balls to ever do due to my fear of heights…I felt confident for the first time in months!
This is definitely the photo I’ll be looking at if I feel a bit glum as I was so happy, felt a real sense of achievement and I loved my body after months of feeling let down by it.
A few days later, I shared my bikini photo with my friend who is trying to get over her own body confidence issues as she has a young daughter and doesn’t want to pass these issues along to her precious daughter…we all come in different shapes and sizes, even models are airbrushed as they’re not perfect…many of us wear invisible scars from hurtful words…it takes a long time to heal from these words and some people (men and women…it happens with both sexes…don’t ignore this fact) never heal.
Towelling off…I walked down a lot of stairs…honestly I can’t remember climbing that many…be warned there are a number of stairs to the top but the views and icy dip are totally worth the pink sweaty face!
Mission complete: My first walk ticked off my New Zealand Walks Bucket List that I have set myself!
^^You can’t beat Macpac for their Merino wool layers…especially if you’re tall…it’s a brand that I swear by.
As I was close to Piha…it seemed wrong not to walk the length of North Piha Beach and put my tootsies into the water…
…hello 2020, cleansing away some of the past and embracing the present!
Where’s your favourite walk in New Zealand? What are your favourite New Zealand Waterfalls?
Travel Tips for Kitekite Falls, Auckland, New Zealand
- Wear some sturdy shoes (I swear by this brand especially if you have wide feet) however I did see people in jandals…there is a little water crossing and the rocks around this area are slippery.
- The walk to Kitekite Falls can be done as a loop and will take around an hour (around 30 minutes or less each way to the Falls)
- Take your togs and a towel for a dip either at the bottom or the top…the top is an extra 10 minute walk up a number of stairs.
- Take water and sunblock with you…and a jumper as you never know when the weather can turn…New Zealand is famous for having four seasons in one day weather.
- Remember to use the shoe cleaning stations as this helps stop the spread of the Kauri die back disease which is killing off our beautiful Kauri trees
- There is a car park prior to the entrance of the walking trial and before the long drop toilets
- Make a day trip and visit Piha Beach and also the Arataki Visitor Centre.
- Looking for great New Zealand walks then subscribe to the Wilderness website as it provides details of many great New Zealand walks including many around the Auckland region.
- Sat Nav Address for Kitekite Falls: 105 Glen Esk Road, Piha
- Check out more information on Kitekite Falls Walk via the Auckland Council official website.
- Click here for Things to Do in Auckland, New Zealand!
xx
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