Roaring Billy Falls
Roaring Billy Falls
A wide turquoise river cuts through a valley covered in thick green forest, with a waterfall tumbling down the mountainside on the opposite bank. Getting there takes you through a forest of towering tree ferns and moss-covered trees, on one of the shortest walks along the Haast Highway. This is Roaring Billy Falls.
Quick Details
Total Length: 1km
Elevation: Almost none
Grade: Easy
Best season: Spring
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
You guys went to a place called Roaring Billy Falls without me??? I feel like we need to have a serious conversation about how these New Zealand hiking locations are being allocated…
Apparently, while Jess and the boys were making their way along the Haast Highway, they spotted the turn-off for Roaring Billy Falls and decided it was worth adding another stop to the day. And with a name like that, how could you not?
The walk begins from a small carpark beside the highway, about 30km south of Haast. At only one kilometre return, it's an easy little detour from the road, following a wide gravel track almost immediately into the forest. And WHAT a forest!
This part of the South Island gets a lot of rain, and judging by Jess's photos, every available surface has taken full advantage of it. Moss covers the trunks of enormous trees, ferns grow from branches overhead and giant tree ferns spread across the track like umbrellas.
The Department of Conservation describes the forest here as podocarp and silver beech, with miro, mataī and silver tawhai among the trees lining the track. But unless you know your New Zealand trees considerably better than I do, the overwhelming impression is simply green. Very, very green.
Somewhere along the way one of the boys was convinced he saw a longhorn bull amongst the trees. The others never saw it though. So whether there was actually a cow wandering around in this magnificent ancient-looking forest, or the New Zealand wilderness was simply playing tricks on them, remains unresolved.
The Haast River
When the river is low enough, you can make your way across much of the gravel riverbed and get closer to the falls. After heavy rain the previous day, the Haast River was still far too high for that when Jess and the boys visited, but there was plenty of exposed riverbed for them to explore from their side of the river.
And suddenly the little forest walk becomes something much bigger. The trees stop, the valley opens around you and there's this enormous expanse of grey river stones stretching along the edge of the Haast River. Across the water, the mountains rise almost immediately from the opposite bank, their slopes covered completely in forest, their peaks hidden amongst the mist.
Roaring Billy Falls
Roaring Billy Falls sits on the opposite side of the Haast River, tumbling down through the forest and over a jumble of enormous boulders before reaching the river below. After heavy rain, apparently it's quite a sight, with the falls rushing down the hillside hard enough that you can see them from the road.
Jess and the boys visited the day after heavy rain had swept through the area. By then, the river had already subsided and returned to its beautiful blue-green colour, but it was still too high to cross. So instead, they wandered out across the gravel for a better look from the opposite bank.
Low cloud hung over the mountains, with the top of the falls disappearing into the mist. Across the river, white water tumbled between enormous rocks and down through the forest towards the Haast. It wasn't exactly the clear mountain view you might hope for when travelling through New Zealand. But I think this one suited the weather.
The dark forest, turquoise river and waterfall half-hidden amongst the clouds made the whole valley feel a little wild. Even standing on a huge expanse of grey river stones, there was forest everywhere you looked, climbing from the edge of the water all the way up into the mist.
Jess and the boys spent some time exploring the riverbed and taking in the view before eventually heading back towards the track. At only one kilometre return, Roaring Billy Falls is a tiny walk beside a highway that would be very easy to drive straight past. Although with a name like Roaring Billy, I don't know why you would.
Getting There
Roaring Billy Falls is located beside State Highway 6, approximately 30km south of Haast township, along the Haast Pass/Tioripatea Highway. The walk starts directly from the Roaring Billy Falls carpark.
Tips and Tricks
There are no toilets at the carpark. The nearest facilities are at Pleasant Flat, around 20km south, or Haast Junction approximately 30km north.
The formed track is an easy, well-maintained walk and is accessible to wheelchairs and prams as far as the viewpoint at the top of the riverbank.
If you're heading down onto the gravel riverbed, conditions are a different story. The Haast River can change considerably after rain, so don't assume that because Jess and the boys could safely explore the riverbank when they visited, you'll be able to do the same.