Haruru Falls was New Zealand's first river port, used by the inland Maori for trading.

 
I stayed at a nice holiday park,

 at the base of Haruru Falls during my visit to the Bay of Islands

The campsites are right on the banks of the river, immediately across from the falls.

 
The land of the camp carries some historic importance.

  For centuries the beach area below this viewpoint was 'ta awa hoenga waka' or canoe landing.  Maori fishermen, traders, and warriors used the landing to gain access to the Bay and Pacific Ocean. Captain James Cook R.N. visited the Outer Bay in 1769, and soon after the district became an important port of call for whalers and commercial shipping.  Early missionaries, traders and settlers saw Haruru as a convenient location to store & tranship cargoes of kauri timber, gum and flax.   Stagecoach services linked Haruru Falls with the Hokianga and steamers based here plied between Kerikeri, Russell, and Waitangi.  
 
 
 
 

Standing at the top of the falls, looking across at the camp.

 
Standing at Haruru, the south side of the falls.
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From Waitangi, the north side of the falls.
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Looking down and the pool from the Haruru side of the falls.   No guardrail.  You, and no-one else, are responsible for your own safety.

 
Meet the local welcoming committee.

When I was staying at this camp, there was also a large group of school kids who were doing kayaking trips in the Bay. The morning of their departure, they put all of their bags next to their bus, and went back up to the lodge.  Inside their bags was some of the food they had bought for their trip.  The ducks, not having any of property rights and exclusive possession, smelled food in the bags and decided to start rustling away. It was kind of funny to see the ducks trying open the bags with their beaks.  After a few minutes somebody recognized what was happening, came out and shooed the ducks away.  The kids had to get one of their number to stand guard over the bags and keep the ducks away.  Ducks at Holiday Parks have the best gig in the world. The parks prohibit dogs, so there's no issue of predators and harassment.  Every day, vans pull up, the occupants get out and say, "Ducks!  How cute!  Let's feed them some bread."  The ducks get regular feedings several times a day, particularly in the summer.

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More information on Haruru Falls here.