Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk: Waterfalls, an Old Tramline and Our Honest Take
The Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk Was Better Than We Expected
We hadn’t expected to have much of an opinion about a dam. But the Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk had already won us over before we reached it, with waterfalls along the road and proper Waitākere bush right from the car park.
Standing on the dam turned out to be worth the walk in its own right. We carried on towards the picnic area and old tramline afterwards, listening to tūī and watching pīwakawaka dart across the track.
It’s a good one when you want a few hours out west without a big climb. There are two short hills on the return, but finding a park gave us more trouble than the walking.
Upper Nihotupu Walk Quick Facts
Location: Piha Road, Waiatarua, Waitākere Ranges
Route: Out and back, with an optional extension beyond the dam
Distance to dam: About 2.6 km one way
Time to dam: Allow at least 45 minutes each way
Longer version: Roughly 6.8 km return; allow 2 to 2.5 hours with stops
Difficulty: Easy overall, but not flat
Surface: Short bush track, then mostly wide gravel road
Parking: Free car park off Piha Road
Toilets: Basic toilet about 10 minutes in; another beyond the dam
Dogs: Allowed on lead
Swimming: No
Parking Was Surprisingly Busy
The car park is right off Piha Road, so finding the start is straightforward. Finding a space took a bit more patience.
We went midweek and it was surprisingly busy, then cleared out not long afterwards. We wouldn’t assume a weekday means you’ll get straight in.
If it’s full, wait for a proper space. With bends and passing traffic on Piha Road, we wouldn’t chance squeezing onto the roadside.
The First Ten Minutes Are Through the Bush
The walk crosses a small bridge and heads under the trees. There are ferns along the track, a thick canopy overhead and plenty of stream noise and birdsong.
It’s an easy stretch, and we liked being straight into the bush without much of a lead-in from the car park. After about ten minutes, the track joins the gravel service road.
That’s where you’ll find the first toilet. It does the job, but it’s pretty rough. There’s a larger one beyond the dam near the picnic and tramline area.
The Waterfalls Give You Plenty of Reasons to Stop
We’d expected the service road to be the less interesting part. Instead, we kept stopping to look down towards Nihotupu Stream and the waterfalls.
The bush opens up in places, giving you different views as you head through the valley. We enjoyed having things to look at along the way, rather than walking straight to the dam and back.
If you’re choosing a walk mainly for the waterfall, we’d compare a few of the waterfall walks near Auckland before settling on this one. Upper Nihotupu suited us because we wanted a longer wander with waterfalls along the way.
The road gradually heads downhill, which makes the walk in feel easy. Coming back, the two short climbs around the waterfall section are more noticeable. Nothing we found particularly hard, but enough that calling it flat would be misleading.
Give Yourself Time at the Dam
The reservoir comes into view as you get closer, then you reach the dam itself. We knew it was there, obviously, but hadn’t appreciated how big it would feel from the top.
With the reservoir behind you and the valley dropping away below, there’s plenty to take in. We were glad we hadn’t planned a quick turnaround.
The dam stands around 50 metres high and stretches 162 metres across the crest. It opened in 1923 and still supplies Auckland with drinking water, holding about 2.2 billion litres when full. There’s more about its construction in Watercare’s dam history.
The reservoir and shoreline are off limits, so this isn’t a swimming stop. We’d stay clear of the steep, eroded ground around the waterfalls too.
We’d Carry On Towards the Old Tramline
The dam is a perfectly good turnaround point, but we enjoyed the extra walk towards the picnic area and old tramline.
The birdlife was particularly good through here when we went. We heard heaps of tūī and watched pīwakawaka dart across the track. It was worth taking our time.
The signs didn’t help much with judging how far we had left. One suggested five to ten minutes; about fifteen minutes later, another gave much the same estimate. We weren’t lost, but we were starting to wonder how many lots of five minutes there were.
Leave a bit of spare time for this section. There’s another toilet out this way as well.
How the Tramline Fits Into the Dam’s History
Construction began in 1915 and took eight years. Flooding, wartime shortages and the influenza epidemic all made progress difficult.
Materials came across the Manukau Harbour by barge, then up the valley by tramline, steam winch and locomotive. Looking at the steep bush around the line gives you some idea of what getting everything to the site involved. Watercare’s construction account explains that journey better than we could.
The line later carried visitors on the Rainforest Express, but that service has ended. The picnic-area extension isn’t an invitation to follow the railway farther into the valley; stick to the open walking route.
Bringing a Dog
Dogs are allowed on lead, and the wide road makes walking together fairly straightforward. There’s plenty of birdlife and some steep ground around the water, so we’d keep them close through those sections.
Bring drinking water for them, especially in summer, and choose your turnaround point around the distance they’re comfortable with.
Finding a suitable bush walk with a dog can take a bit more checking elsewhere. If you’re planning more outings, our guide to hiking in New Zealand with dogs explains access rules and 1080 notices, which can affect where you go.
Kids, Prams and the Walking Surface
For kids who are comfortable walking several kilometres, the waterfalls help break up the distance. The dam is a useful place to stop and decide whether everyone’s up for the extra section.
We’d be more cautious with a pram. Most of the walk follows a wide gravel road, but the opening bush track and changes in gradient matter too. We wouldn’t call the whole route pram-friendly based on the road alone.
If you need step-free or wheelchair access, check the full route details before making the trip.
Before You Head Out
We’d allow at least 45 minutes each way to the dam, with longer for waterfall stops. If you’re carrying on towards the picnic area and tramline, leave two to two and a half hours overall rather than trying to fit it into a spare hour.
Comfortable walking shoes, water and a snack are enough for a normal dry day. Parts of the road and dam are exposed, so a hat and sunscreen are useful in summer, with a light layer for changeable weather. If you’re missing a bottle, hat or packable layer, those are the everyday bits we keep in our Trail & Travel Essentials.
Check for track closures before driving out, particularly after heavy rain. Stay on the open route, follow the signs and use any kauri cleaning stations you pass.
Final Take
We’d happily do the Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk again. We stopped often, enjoyed the dam more than we expected and were glad we carried on towards the tramline.
There’s a fair amount of gravel-road walking, so it won’t suit you if you want a bush track the whole way. For an easier few hours in the Waitākeres, though, we thought it was well worth the drive.
Next time, we’d leave ourselves just as much time to wander.
Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk FAQ
How long does the Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk take?
Allow at least 45 minutes each way to the dam, or roughly 1.5 to 2 hours return with stops. For the extension towards the picnic and tramline area, we’d leave 2 to 2.5 hours, or longer for a proper break.
The signed 45-minute estimate matched our experience better than some shorter times we’d seen online.
How far is the walk?
The signed distance to the dam is about 2.6 km one way, making that version roughly 5.2 km return. Continuing beyond the dam brings it closer to 6 to 7 km, depending on where you turn around.
That difference in turnaround points explains some of the varying distances online.
Is Upper Nihotupu hard?
We found it easy overall, with two short climbs on the return. Most of the walking is on a broad gravel road, following a short bush track at the start.
It’s a reasonable beginner option if you’re comfortable walking the distance.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, on lead. Bring water for them and keep them close around the waterfalls, dam and birdlife.
Are there toilets?
There’s a basic toilet about ten minutes in, near where the bush track joins the road. Another is beyond the dam near the picnic and tramline area.
Can you swim at Upper Nihotupu Dam?
No. The reservoir and shoreline are off limits. We wouldn’t treat the waterfall edges as swimming access either.
Is it suitable for prams or wheelchairs?
We wouldn’t promise it. The wide gravel road doesn’t account for every part of the route. Check current access details if you need a suitable surface or a route without steps.
Is it worth walking past the dam?
We thought so, particularly for the birdlife and old tramline. If you’re short on time or ready to head back, turning at the dam still makes a worthwhile walk.