Kitekite Falls

The Kitekite Falls ( also Kita Kita Falls) are a three-tiered waterfall near Auckland in New Zealand. The case height is 40 meters. From the vantage point on the track Kitekite the waterfall seems to be even higher, since the first white water from the upper basin falls over the rocks into a small pool, from where it falls into a large pool, then further in a. Only starts the actual almost vertical three-stage cascade, so that the overall height of the descent is practically 80 m. The cases are part of the Glen Esk stream and lie near the Piha Beach.

Access

From a parking lot at the end of Glen Esk Road from a circular route was extended, see the cases on the approximately 30,000 people a year. The path follows with few interruptions the south side of Glen Esk stream up to a lookout point, where there is a huge bank of macrocarpa timber, an outlook on the case. The bank was built in 2005 by criminals as a community service. The path then leads to the foot of the case down and crosses the stream at the lower swimming hole, continues its way down then on the north side of the river continues. Another path leads down a steep path, the Connect track that climbs about 100 meters north of the foot of the waterfall on the north side. The basin at the upper end of the case is suitable for swimming, but the water is cold.

History

The area was obtained from 1910 Kauri.

Initial attempts to allow trees the cases down, ended in their destruction on the rocks below the falls. Therefore, we built a wooden dam above the falls, of which only cuts in the rock are left today, in which the dam was anchored. In addition, there are still parts of the heavy beams in the course of the waterfall. Now one has been able to strains with the additional water wash down the cases to the sawmill.

In 1921, the logging was stopped because all adult trees had been felled.

Flora and Fauna

It took many decades before the kauri ( Agathis australis) regenerated and again broke through the canopy of the forest. Some 100 year-old trees can be seen from the trail out. These are still young trees with slender tapered point. The Kauri tree does not begin until about 100 years to spread his crown and then grow for another 500 years.

The trail leads through a patch of Nikau Palms. There live Tui birds. Other plants are Silberfarn and Puriri trees ( Vitex lucens ), more attractive red berries Maori fruit pigeons, as well as the Rangioroa plant (due to the soft underside of its broad leaves also bushman 's friend called ). The cases also the rare moss grows Fissidens rigidulus var pseudostrictus.

The New Zealand Langflossenaal, (Anguilla dieffenbachii ) lives in the rocks at the foot of the falls.

Name origin

' Kitekite ' is a misspelling of the Maori name Kita Kita. According to a dictionary, the word ' Kita Kita ' is colorful, tight, fast, intense.

The Glen Esk was named by William Stockwell so. This emigrated to New Zealand in 1876 and bought soon after his arrival land above the falls. He named the area after his home in Scotland " Glen Esk ". " Glen " is the Gaelic word for valley. " Esk " is of Celtic origin and means "water".

Canyoning

The cases are used by a licensed operator for canyoning. This license was in 2002 at the General Assembly of the Piha Ratepayers and Residents Association the subject of intense discussion, as residents feared negative effects on the environment, but did not share a representative of the nature conservation authority. Canyoning takes place today and is under observation. Leaving the path and climbing on the rocks is strictly forbidden and only with a permit or a licensed guide possible. In the wetlands, where the rare moss grows, the access is prohibited.

Gallery

The Kitekite track descends to the base of the waterfall by the prospect. With Nikau palm.