Wainui Falls, in the northern reaches of the park near Wainui Bay, is the largest waterfall accessible by a short walk in the area — a 20-metre drop over a granite ledge into a green pool. The track from the carpark is about 45 minutes return, easy walking through beech and nikau forest.
This is the obvious short stop if you are driving the Takaka–Totaranui road and want something other than another beach. The pool below the falls is fine for a quick swim in summer, though cold even in February. The swing bridge across the Wainui River on the approach is worth a moment for the view down into the gorge.