Few short hikes pack this much variety into a couple of hours. The Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop near Mt Taranaki threads together ancient lava pools, an 18-metre waterfall, and some of the most atmospheric forest in New Zealand’s North Island — all within a 4 km circuit inside Egmont National Park.
After spending the night at Dawson Falls Campground, it was the obvious first move of the morning.
Within minutes, the forest closed in around us. The scent of damp earth filled the air as we moved through Taranaki’s goblin forest, where twisted kāmahi trees are coated in moss and shaped in ways that feel almost unreal.
Here’s a closer look at the loop, what you’ll see along the way, and a few things to keep in mind before you go.
Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop: Quick Overview
The Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop is a 3.9 km circuit in Egmont National Park near Mt Taranaki, typically taking 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. The track is easy to moderate, featuring lava-formed pools, goblin forest, and the 18-metre Dawson Falls.
- Distance: 3.9 km loop
- Time: ~2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Elevation: 225 m
- Location: Egmont National Park (Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki)
- Highlights: Wilkies Pools, Dawson Falls (Te Rere-o-Noke), goblin forest
How to Get to Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls + Parking Tips
The trailhead is at the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, situated at 900 metres up on the southeast side of Mt Taranaki, at the top of Manaia Road, within Egmont National Park (Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki).
There’s one road in and one road out — Manaia Road — so navigation is simple once you’re on it. From New Plymouth allow around an hour (63 km); from Stratford it’s closer to 30 minutes.
A note on the road: The road is sealed but very narrow as it climbs the mountain, and is generally open year-round. Take it easy on the bends — it’s a beautiful drive through forest canopy, but it demands your attention.
Parking: There’s a free car park at the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, which is the starting point for the walk, and it usually has plenty of space.
That said, it can fill quickly on warm summer weekends when swimming at Wilkies Pools is the drawcard — arriving before 9 am or after 3 pm gives you the best chance of an easy park.
If you want to beat the crowds entirely, the easiest way is to simply stay the night. Dawson Falls Campground sits right beside the Visitor Centre and is managed by DOC — we pulled up in the campervan the evening before and shared the site with a handful of other campervans.
It’s a simple campground without powered sites or a camp kitchen, but it has flushing toilets and the location is hard to argue with.
Waking up inside the national park and walking straight onto the track without driving anywhere is exactly as good as it sounds.
Best Direction for Wilkies Pools Loop (Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise?)
One of the most common questions about this walk is which direction to take — and while you can complete the loop either way, the experience does feel slightly different depending on your choice.
Walking the loop clockwise tends to be the more gradual and comfortable option. You’ll start out on the better-maintained sections of track, before transitioning into a more natural forest trail with exposed roots, rocks, and occasional muddy patches. The elevation gain is spread out more evenly this way, which makes the overall walk feel a bit more relaxed.
Going anti-clockwise flips that experience. You’ll hit the rougher, more uneven sections of Kapuni Loop Track earlier on, which can feel a bit more demanding — especially if the track is wet. The climbs also tend to feel slightly more direct in this direction, rather than gradually building.
We chose to walk the loop clockwise, heading north toward Wilkies Pools first.
Best direction (quick answer):
✅ Clockwise = easier, more gradual
❌ Anti-clockwise = steeper start, rougher early terrain
Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop: Track Breakdown
1. Goblin Forest Track (First Section)
From the Visitor Centre car park, the track eases you in along a flat section lined with hexagonal metal grip matting, leading straight into Taranaki’s goblin forest — where moss-covered kāmahi trees line the trail and the forest quickly closes in around you.
The high rainfall on this side of the mountain feeds the thick moss growth, giving the forest its signature look and setting the tone for the rest of the walk.
2. Suspension Bridge over Kapuni Stream
Not far in, the track transitions onto a suspension bridge crossing Kapuni Stream. Constructed in 2016, it feels sturdy underfoot, with just a slight movement to keep things interesting as you cross.
3. Wilkies Pools
Wilkies Pools are the highlight of the first half of the loop and a great place to slow down.
Formed over thousands of years as sand and gravel carved into ancient lava flows (estimated at around 20,000 years old), the result is a series of smooth, sculpted rock basins.
I couldn’t resist a quick dip — freezing cold for early November, but definitely memorable.
From the main pool area it’s worth scrambling up along the stream to explore further. As you climb, more pools begin to appear, and if the weather plays along, you’ll have Mt Taranaki rising above the forest in the background.
The mountain was completely covered in cloud during our visit, but it was still a beautiful place to spend some time.
4. From Wilkies Pools to Dawson Falls
From Wilkies Pools, the track becomes a little less straightforward. You’ll pass through a network of intersecting tracks, so it helps to know the sequence:
- Continue along the Wilkies Pool Loop Track
- Turn left onto the Ridge Loop Track
Once you reach the junction with signs pointing back to Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, continue along the Kapuni Loop Track for the final stretch to the falls.
The signage is there, but it’s worth knowing the sequence in advance so you’re not second-guessing yourself at every fork.
This section is easily one of the highlights of the loop, where the kāmahi trees appear older, more twisted, and full of character compared to earlier on.
5. Dawson Falls / Te Rere-o-Noke
The trail eventually leads you to Dawson Falls — an 18-metre drop where the river drops into a small pool before cascading again over a smaller ledge below.
We were there in early November, and with spring snowmelt still feeding the stream the falls were absolutely thundering — if you can time your visit for spring, do it.
It’s worth heading down to the base rather than just stopping at the top. A wide wooden staircase gets you there in less than 5 minutes, and the view from below gives you a much better sense of the falls’ power
On the way back up, turn left and you’ll pass a viewing platform looking down over the falls from above.
From there, follow the Kapuni Loop Track as it guides you back to the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, completing the loop.
Is the Wilkies Pools Loop Worth It? + Tips
The Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop is an easy track to recommend if you’re short on time or looking for something more relaxed, but still want to experience a unique side of Mt Taranaki.
The loop format also keeps things interesting the whole way through, without any need to retrace your steps.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Start early if you can — this is a popular area, especially in warmer months
- Take your time at Wilkies Pools — it’s worth exploring beyond the main section
- Don’t skip the base of Dawson Falls — it’s a short detour but easily the best viewpoint
- Wear proper footwear — parts of the track can be muddy and slippery, especially after rain
We stayed here for one night in our campervan, then continued around the mountain the next day, driving up to Stratford Plateau — a great way to experience a different side of Mt Taranaki and keep exploring more hikes in the area.
FAQs – Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop
The Wilkies Pools & Dawson Falls Loop takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. If you take your time exploring the pools or heading down to the base of the falls, it can easily stretch a bit longer.
Yes — this is a beginner-friendly walk with well-marked trails and a relatively short distance. That said, there are roots, uneven sections, and some mud, especially on the Kapuni Loop side, so decent footwear is recommended.
No — dogs are not allowed in Egmont National Park. This rule is in place to protect native wildlife, so it’s best to plan accordingly.
Yes, you can — and on a warm day it’s definitely tempting. Just be prepared for very cold water, even in summer. Conditions can also vary depending on recent rainfall, so take care around slippery rocks and flowing sections.
Yes — there are no dangerous stream crossings on this loop. The main crossing over Kapuni Stream is via a modern suspension bridge, so you won’t need to wade through water at any point.
No — entry to Egmont National Park is free. Parking at the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre is also free, making this an easy and accessible walk to include in your itinerary.
This walk can be done year-round, but conditions vary. Clear days offer views of Mt Taranaki, while misty or damp conditions enhance the atmosphere of the goblin forest. After rain, both Wilkies Pools and Dawson Falls tend to be more impressive.
Both directions work, but clockwise (toward Wilkies Pools first) tends to feel more gradual and flows better overall. It also lines up nicely with reaching the main highlights early in the walk.
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