Photo: Wildman NZ, CC BY-SA 4.0Washpen Falls
A private farm track through an ancient volcanic canyon — waterfalls, caves, and the plains laid out below.
Washpen Falls is the odd one out among the walks near Methven: a private track on a working high country farm at Windwhistle, maintained by the landowners and paid for through an honesty box at the old Washpen woolshed. The $10 track fee covers a printed track guide and the loan of a walking stick, and it keeps a genuinely distinctive piece of country open to the public.
The loop drops into a canyon cut through the remains of an ancient volcano — the owners put the rock at around 80 million years old — and the geology is what sets the walk apart. You move from open farmland into a dark, bush-filled gorge with waterfalls, creek crossings and caves, then climb out to a lookout with a long view across the Canterbury Plains. It packs an unusual amount of variety into a two-hour circuit.
Because it is a farm rather than a public reserve, the arrangement comes with house rules: no dogs, cash for the honesty box, last entry at 4pm, and the track closes in extreme weather. Rustic farm shelters along the way make good picnic stops, and there are toilets and parking at the woolshed. It is the kind of place that runs on visitors doing the right thing, and it has run that way for years.
What to expect
The full loop takes about two hours at a steady pace — closer to three if you picnic at the shelters or linger at the lookout. It is a proper walking track rather than a stroll: expect formed track, stairs and boardwalk sections, with enough climbing on the way out of the canyon to get your heart rate up. The owners describe it as unsuitable for prams, which is accurate.
The character changes constantly. The descent into the canyon is shaded and can be slippery after rain; the canyon floor is all native bush, waterfall and rock; the climb out delivers the payoff view over the plains. The printed track guide keys numbered posts along the way to points of interest, which is genuinely useful rather than a gimmick.
Start at the old Washpen Falls woolshed on Washpen Road, where you pay, pick up the guide and borrow a walking stick if you want one. Warm clothing and sturdy shoes are required — this is foothills country and the weather turns quickly. Groups can prepay by arrangement with the owners; individuals just turn up before 4pm.
Best time to visit
The track is open year-round except in extreme weather, and the canyon's mix of shade and shelter makes it more forgiving than the exposed high country walks nearby. Autumn is arguably the best of it — settled weather, low sun on the rock, and fewer visitors than summer weekends. After heavy rain the waterfalls are more dramatic but the stairs and boardwalks are slippery, so take the loaned walking stick seriously.
Insider tips
- ✓Bring cash — the track fee ($10 adult, $5 child) goes in an honesty box and there is no EFTPOS.
- ✓Sturdy shoes are required; the canyon sections are steep in places and slippery after rain.
- ✓No dogs — this is a working farm.
- ✓Arrive well before the 4pm last entry so you are not rushing the loop.
- ✓Take the free loaner walking stick from the woolshed; the descent is easier with it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Washpen Falls walk cost?
The track fee is $10 per adult and $5 per child under 15, paid in cash into an honesty box at the woolshed — there is no EFTPOS on site. The fee includes a printed track guide and the use of a walking stick, and it funds the upkeep of a track that sits entirely on private farmland.
How long does the Washpen Falls walk take?
The loop takes about two hours at a steady pace, and two to three hours if you stop at the shelters, caves and lookout along the way. Last entry is 4pm, so start by early afternoon in winter.
Are dogs allowed at Washpen Falls?
No. Washpen Falls is a working farm and dogs are not permitted on the track.
Where is Washpen Falls and where should I stay?
The track starts at 590 Washpen Road, near Windwhistle — about 20km north of Methven via the Rakaia Gorge, roughly a 25-minute drive. Most visitors stay in Methven and combine the walk with the gorge or Mt Hutt — see visitmethven.co.nz/stay.
Practical information
Hours
Daily, last entry 4pm; closed during extreme weather
Price
$10 adult, $5 child under 15 — cash honesty box, no EFTPOS
Location
590 Washpen Road, Windwhistle (20km from Methven town centre)
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