Tarawera Falls and Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls
How to get there
Tarawera Falls is about 30 mins drive from Kawerau on an unsealed/gravel forestry road. There is signage on the way, but no mobile reception at this stage. Before you head out, make sure to get a permit from the Kawerau isite and drive with your lights on. Permits are only issued on weekends and public holidays.
Tarawera Falls. Photo by Aaron Pearson.
I still remember the first time we drove down that gravel road from Kawerau to Tarawera Falls. It was a family trip (I was still in high school) and I sat in the back, napping most of the way. Each time I woke up, all I could see was the dust rising towards the blue skies. It felt like forever! As an adult, it usually only takes us 30-40 mins from Kawerau. Each time I've taken friends there, they always wonder how something as magnificent could remain so relatively unknown.
Tarawera Falls is accessed via a forestry road outside of Kawerau in the. Bay of Plenty. Even though I call it a gravel road, it's more like an unsealed road, and some sections are rougher than others. You don't need a 4WD, although if you have a lowered car, just be prepared for a slower drive. You will need to buy a permit ($10 per car) from the Kawerau isite - permits are only issued for weekends and public holidays. The isite is also close to New World, which is handy if you want to pick up last minute snacks.
The walk to Tarawera Falls from the carpark takes about 20 mins, and that's at a cruisy pace (with plenty of photo breaks). It's a well formed walking track, and I even saw someone on crutches the last time I was there. I wouldn't say it's pushchair friendly though.
At the start, the track follows the Tarawera River, a stunning freshwater river that's a popular swimming spot for locals in the summer. Once you cross the bridge, the track heads uphill and into the forest. Don't worry, the track eventually evens out by the time you hear the roar of Tarawera Falls.
If you still feel like chasing waterfalls, the Cascade Falls is less than an hour's walk, and in my opinion, a much better picnic spot. From Tarawera Falls, head uphill along the Cascade Loop Track. There's a bit of huffing and puffing until you get to the loop junction (maybe 15-20 mins depending on your pace). At the junction, I prefer to walk the track clockwise, but either way, you will end up back here.
After the junction, the track heads downhill and it's a lovely walk as it follows the river. Take your time and enjoy the birds. When you get to the turnaround sign of the Cascade Loop Track, keep going straight as if you're walking to the Tarawera Outlet (that's a great there-and-back option if you're up for a longer hike) until you hear Cascade Falls. It's not as loud as Tarawera Falls, but pretty hard to miss.
To get back to the carpark, head back to the turnaround point of the loop track you saw earlier. It's about 10 mins back to the junction. There are plenty of orange triangle markers to lead you back, and the track itself is super easy to follow. It's a cruisy two hour loop from the carpark. Allow more time if you're planning on walking to the Tarawera Outlet.
Ronna Grace Funtelar is a 40-something desk-fit creative, weekend explorer and cheese enthusiast in Whakatāne, New Zealand. She has a big butt, chunky thighs and shakin’ more jelly than Destiny’s Child. Her creaky knees discovered an appreciation for Type 2 adventures in the bush and mountains in her thirties, and she’s been hiking ever since.
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