Last updated November 2026
Sharplin Falls is a waterfall on Bowyers Stream in Sharplin Falls Scenic Reserve near Staveley, Mid Canterbury, reached on the track DOC lists as Tāhekerua / Sharplin Falls Track.
The walk starts from the Sharplin Falls car park at the end of Flynns Road. Its route is new: the original track closed after earthquakes damaged a gantry section, and the Mt Somers Walkways Society built a replacement on the other side of the valley, with two new bridges, which reopened in 2023.
The car park also marks the end of the Mt Somers South Face Track. The falls are about 87 km from central Timaru in a straight line.
Visiting Sharplin Falls: The Essentials
- Start
- Sharplin Falls car park, end of Flynns Road, Staveley
- Distance from the city
- About 87 km from Timaru
- Track type
- Walking track with two bridges, on the far side of Bowyers Stream, ending at a viewing platform
- Facilities
- Toilets and an information panel at the car park
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation (Sharplin Falls Scenic Reserve); track built by the Mt Somers Walkways Society
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
What You'll Find Here
The old walk to Sharplin Falls closed after earthquakes damaged a section built as a gantry, and DOC decided not to reopen it because of the continuing risk of rockfall.
Rather than lose the walk, the volunteer Mt Somers Walkways Society built a new route on the opposite side of Bowyers Stream, raising about $560,000 for it, according to the Ashburton Guardian. Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, contributed a $20,000 grant towards it, and donors and many volunteers did the rest.
The Ashburton Guardian’s account of the build describes the new track: zigzags that skirt the rockfall zone, a short uphill stretch the builders call “the Plod”, and sections named the Clay Cutting, the Grassy Slip and the Rocky Cutting.
The spans for the two bridges were flown in by helicopter in January 2023. At the end, the track passes a boulder and climbs a few steps to a viewing platform looking at the falls.
No official walking time has been published for the new track, so check with DOC or the society for current details before you go.
Combining It With Mt Somers
The Sharplin Falls car park is also one end of DOC’s Mt Somers South Face Track, which runs from the Woolshed Creek car park. It is a separate, much longer outing; use Plan My Walk if you are heading onto the mountain.
Getting There
Turn off the Inland Scenic Route (SH72) at Staveley and follow Flynns Road to the Sharplin Falls car park at the road end. Check DOC before you go for any track changes.
Official Sources for Sharplin Falls
Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa: A new track to Sharplin Falls: why the old track closed and how the new one was built.
Department of Conservation: South Face Track: the Mt Somers track that ends at the Sharplin Falls car park, with alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Ashburton Guardian: Local gem set to reopen: the new route, bridges and the volunteers who built them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sharplin Falls track open?
A new track on the other side of the valley reopened in 2023. Check DOC before you go for the current status.
Where does the walk start?
At the Sharplin Falls car park at the end of Flynns Road, Staveley.
How long does it take?
No official time has been published for the new track. Check with DOC or the Mt Somers Walkways Society.
Why did the old track close?
Earthquakes damaged a section built as a gantry, and DOC didn’t reopen it because of ongoing rockfall risk.
Who built the new track?
The Mt Somers Walkways Society, with donors, volunteers and a Herenga ā Nuku grant.
Are there toilets?
Yes, at the car park, along with an information panel.
What is at the end of the track?
A viewing platform, reached past a boulder and up a few steps.
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