Where are the best places to explore on Maui?
Choosing the best places to explore on Maui is never an easy task. There are so many breathtaking attractions and beautiful places to explore on Maui. To make it easier for you to get the most out of your vacation on the island, we’ve created a list of the best places to explore on Maui.
Best places to explore on Maui
Read on to find out why the following attractions are the best places to explore on Maui:
Best places to explore on Maui: Wailua Falls
This stop, along with a few others, is technically on the Hana Highway. However, we believe it deserves to be included on its own because it is so amazing. Wailua Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all of Hawaii, can be found just past mile marker 45 on the Hana Highway as it crosses into Highway 31.
Only a few metres from the road, Wailua Falls elegantly falls 80 feet through a verdant landscape. To the foot of the falls, there is a short route that can be tricky, so proceed with caution. Throughout the year, the water flow changes, but it remains typically attractive. Learn more about what to do and see on Maui.
The Road to Hana
Unquestionably, the most popular destination on Maui is the breathtaking Road to Hana. The journey itself, rather than the final destination, is what draws people to drive the Hana Highway on Maui. You can get a camper van such as a jeep wrangler from Zazu Campers to enjoy exploring the Road to Hana.
Few words can really capture the splendor of this drive, with its cliffs shrouded in lush, green valleys teeming with waterfalls. The shoreline is hugged by curves that look out over an ocean that continues unbroken all the way to the Alaskan coast. The Road to Hana is one of the best places to explore on Maui. If you’re yet to try car camping on Maui, find out why its such an amazing experience.
Oheo Gulch at Kipahulu
The Oheo Gulch is situated about 15 minutes outside of Hana town, close to mile marker 42 on the Hana Highway (Road to Hana), after it turns into Highway 31. It is technically a part of Haleakala National Park.
Due to its geographical location and separation from the Summit region of the park, which is what most people think of when they hear “Haleakala NP,” we have separated this site from Haleakala National Park. Highway 360, commonly known as the Hana Highway or the Road to Hana, provides access to the Oheo Gulch side. Sometimes referred to as the Kipahulu Area. You shouldn’t hesitate to explore the Oheo Gulch area, which features lush green scenery, waterfalls, ponds, and more.
Best places to explore on Maui: Iao Valley & Needle
The ‘Iao Needle is a naturally occurring rock feature that lies tucked away amid the thick vegetation of the ‘Iao Valley. It turns out that the stone with the green coating sticking out of the valley’s floor is an old basaltic core (volcano remnant). The ‘Iao Needle rises 1200 feet from the valley floor to 2,250 feet above sea level.
“EE-ow” is how you pronounce the name ‘Iao. A beautiful pathway and lush tropical plant garden encircle the “Iao Needle.” It was the scene of one of the most well-known conflicts in Hawaiian history, with the Pu’u Kukui Crater surrounding it on all sides. In this battle to unify the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha I defeated the Maui army in 1790. The Iao needle is one of the best places to explore on Maui.
Haleakala National Park
It would be a grave injustice to Haleakala National Park to describe it as magnificent. Haleakala, covering a huge area of territory in Maui’s southeast, is home to the island’s tallest peak, standing at 10,023 feet. Additionally, it only travels 38 miles to set the world record for rising to the highest elevation in the least amount of time. The Haleakala National Park is one of the best places to explore on Maui.
In addition to being one of the most visited attractions in Hawaii, it is also home to five distinct temperature zones, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, breathtaking views, surreal landscapes, and flora and fauna that are unique to Hawaii.