The Waimea Valley on Oahu’s North Shore – Botanical Garden and a Beautiful Waterfall for Swimming

On the North Shore of Oahu is one of my favorite places on the island: the Waimea Valley Botanical Garden. It’s not just a botanical garden, but it’s a hiking place, a birdwatching spot, and a waterfall swim waiting to happen. While there are lots of wonderful beaches and snorkeling spots on the North Shore, the Waimea Valley is my favorite spot here. Below you’ll find information for visiting the Waimea Valley and tips for having a great day or several days on the North Shore of Oahu.

Have you come to the Waimea Valley before? Was it what you expected? Oh no, you thought this was Waimea Canyon?! That’s on Kauai and is differently beautiful. If you have any questions about visiting the Waimea Valley on Oahu, please leave a comment or send us a note. We love it here and are happy to share more about it!

Highlights of the Waimea Valley

Two types of people visit the Waimea Valley on the North Shore of Oahu: plant/bird people or waterfall people. I’m both of those. The plants and trees you’ll see as you follow the paths of the Waimea Valley are amazing. Flowers like you wouldn’t believe are definitely a highlight, but then when you discover all of the unique things growing in this forest botanical garden you’ll be even more wowed. The thing that really stunned me on my first visit was the cannonball fruit that fell onto the path. Bizarre!

This is a great place for birdwatching too. The forest is very dense in the Waimea Valley, and with the beautiful stream flowing through it, the birds love living here in this protected place. While I’ve yet to see an I’iwi here, there are many other endemic, colorful birds to watch for, including the endangered ‘Alae ‘Ula.

For the waterfall people, you’ll love having a beautiful waterfall to swim in at the end of your hike in the Waimea Valley. Because this is a part of the botanical gardens area and they receive a lot of visitors, there are staff at the waterfall to ensure visitors stay safe when they swim. Because water levels can fluctuate based on rain up in the mountains, there are times when the lifeguards will close the waterfall swimming area, so be sure to check at the entry to the Waimea Valley before doing the walk if that’s your main goal.

Tips for a Great Visit to the Waimea Valley

While other botanical gardens may not be the best place to visit with small kids, such as the Limahuli Gardens on Kauai, the Waimea Valley is wonderful for every age. The trails are wide in most places and there are interesting things to see everywhere, from cool plants to cultural sites. You can learn a lot about both horticulture and Hawaiian culture during your visit.

If you plan it just right, you can join one of the complimentary walking tours through the gardens. You can learn from the experts about what’s blooming. Another program not to overlook are all the people working on crafts and practicing traditional Hawaiian culture throughout the gardens. Stop and watch demonstrations where they’re happening. Take your time enjoying the forest and don’t rush through your time at the waterfall.

Because the trails do lead you up the valley, which is usually very moist, I would wear water sandals for your visit. Wear a pair of Keens or something that you can go into the waterfall splash pool with. You don’t want to walk on the cold, pokey rocks. Yes, I said cold. The waterfalls is not a hot spring. This is a chilly swim, but it’s really fun and you have to do it.

For a really special visit, you can actually come to the Waimea Valley for a luau. That’s right! There are luaus several days a week here, and what’s even cooler is that this is one of the few places that does a midday luau. Because this is a unique place to experience a Hawaiian luau, they do tend to book up in advance. It’s a smaller luau setting so there are fewer tickets available than the larger ones, like the Ka Wa’a Luau at Aulani on the south shore or the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau at the Royal Kona Resort on the Big Island. Book this one at least a week in advance.

Being Prepared for the Waimea Valley

As I said, wear the right shoes when you come to the Waimea Valley. Be prepared for slippery spots on the side trails or at the waterfall, and wear something that you can rinse off if it’s been raining. I also recommend wearing your swimsuit under your clothes for your visit to the Waimea Valley. One of the big highlights is getting to swim in the waterfall, so don’t miss out because you were dressed in your best aloha shirt and loafers. With that, bring towels in your backpack to dry off. You could, of course, drip dry on your walk back down through the valley, but it’s very shaded and you won’t dry quickly.

You can bring snacks with you for your botanical garden hike if you like, just be sure to not littler, and that includes food bits. There are endangered endemic birds here in the Waimea Valley and they do not need human food. Don’t feed the animals! If you didn’t bring snacks but you’re feeling hungry, there is a snack bar at the entrance, so don’t stress it.

When it comes to camera gear, the Waimea Valley requires both a nice camera for photographing birds and flowers AND a waterproof camera for swimming in the waterfall. Bring your GoPro or a good waterproof case for your cell phone, because how often are you going to get to swim in a waterfall?

Parking for Oahu’s Waimea Valley

There is plenty of parking at the Waimea Valley. This is a well developed tourist attraction and it’s not difficult to park. Be sure that you’re parking in designated areas though, as the highway right here is busy coming from upcountry and busy with locals who like to surf in confluence of the stream with the incoming tide.