Wilkies Pools – Egmont National Park, Taranaki
High on the south-eastern slopes of Taranaki Maunga, Wilkies Pools are a series of crystal-clear basins scoured into smooth, 20,000-year-old lava. Fed by icy mountain streams, the pools tumble gently from one level to the next, creating natural plunge pockets framed by moss, ferns and forest canopy.
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The water here is unmistakably alpine: cool, clean and energising. On warm summer days the pools offer a bracing dip beneath walls of dark volcanic stone. After heavy rain the cascades strengthen and the rock channels glisten, turning the basins into miniature waterfalls.
The setting feels untouched and elemental. Twisted kāmahi trees lean over the stream, and the surrounding goblin forest hums with birdsong. Every surface is softened by moss and mist, giving the whole place a quiet, almost enchanted quality.
Wilkies Pools is one of the Taranaki swims in Swim New Zealand – North Island.
How to Get to Wilkies Pools
Wilkies Pools are in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki (formerly Egmont National Park), reached from the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre on the south-eastern side of the mountain.
Driving directions from Stratford
- From Stratford, take Celia Street, which becomes Ōpunake Road.
- Drive about 14 km, then turn right onto Manaia Road.
- Continue about 9 km uphill to the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre car park.
The car park has toilets, picnic tables and clearly marked walking tracks.
The Wilkies Pools Loop Track
- Distance: 1.9 km loop, graded easy.
- Time: about 1 hour 20 minutes for the full loop.
- To the pools: the first 900 m (about 20 minutes) is stroller and wheelchair accessible.
- Kapuni Stream crossing: there's no bridge on the loop, and the crossing may be impassable after heavy rain.
You'll hear the water before the pools appear through the forest. Check the DOC track page for current alerts before you go.
When to Visit
- Best season: late spring to early autumn for the most comfortable swimming.
- Water temperature: cold alpine stream, refreshing year-round.
- After rain: flow increases significantly and the rock gets even more slippery.
- Winter: atmospheric and misty, but swimming is very cold.
Safety and Respect at Wilkies Pools
- The rock is smooth and slippery.
- Water levels rise quickly after rain.
- There are no lifeguards.
- Mountain weather changes fast; check the forecast and bring layers.
- Wear sturdy footwear for the walk.
- Don't jump or dive into the pools; depths are hard to judge.
Taranaki Maunga is a revered ancestor to Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine and Te Āti Awa. Stay on the tracks and leave no trace.
Discover More with Swim New Zealand
Wilkies Pools features in Swim New Zealand – North Island, a curated guide to the North Island's most dramatic freshwater swims, from geothermal streams to alpine plunge pools beneath volcanoes like Taranaki. Browse all our New Zealand travel guides.
Wilkies Pools FAQs
How long is the walk to Wilkies Pools?
About 20 minutes (900 m) from the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre to the pools. The full Wilkies Pools Loop is 1.9 km and takes around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Can you swim at Wilkies Pools?
Yes, if you can handle cold alpine water. The rock is slippery, levels rise fast after rain, and there are no lifeguards.
Is Wilkies Pools wheelchair accessible?
The first 900 m of track to the pools is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. The rest of the loop includes an unbridged stream crossing.
Which side of Taranaki are Wilkies Pools on?
The south-eastern side, starting from the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, about 23 km by road from Stratford.
