Timing

From 1 August 2018, permits to the Tarawera Falls and Tarawera Outlet will be issued from the office of Maori Investments Limited.

Weekends and Public Holidays
Due to Maori Investments office closure on weekends and public holiday’s permits can be
obtained in advance:
 Online via Maori Investments website; or by
 Contacting our office during office hours.

Alternatively permits required on weekends and public holidays can also be obtained by
visiting the premises of the Kawerau iSite Visitor Information Centre.

Waterhouse Street Extension, Kawerau
0800 MIL 123 / 0800 645 123
info@maoriinvestments.co.nz
www.maoriinvestments.co.nz
Office Hours: Monday – Friday
8.30am – 5.00pm

Kawerau iSite Visitor Information Centre
The Bus Terminal, Plunket Street, Kawerau
07 323 6300
Weekend Operating Hours
9.00am – 4.00pm

Access

A map and directions will be given once you’ve got the permit in your hands.

Access to Tarawera Falls is sporadically signposted and passes through forestry roads, which are mostly unsealed. Be extremely careful, drive with your lights on and watch for logging trucks.

From S.H.34 in Kawerau, turn into River Road and then Waterhouse Street. After 1km turn left then right into Rotoiti Road (unsealed) and continue 13km to the junction with Tarawera Road. After 4.5km turn left into Waterfall Road. The roadend is a further 5.3km, where there is a parking area and toilets at the Lake Tarawera Outlet Campsite.

Alternatively, to reach Tarawera Outlet, at the junction of Rotoiti Road and Tarawera Roads, continue along Tarawera Road for 500 metres and turn right. The DoC campground with toilets and piped water (from the lake) is a further 11.5km at Tarawera Outlet.

Track

The track is well-formed but unmarked for 15 minutes to a signposted junction. Right is a shortcut which rejoins the main track, but it is better to fork left to the view the Disappearing River (10 minutes).

The area around the Disappearing River can be slippery and there are no rails to prevent falls. Be vigilant supervising children.

The track passes through a series of small but roaring cascades (unsuitable for swimming) before reaching a wide, more placid stretch of water. At the head of the watershed the forest becomes more open, from where it is 45 minutes to a footbridge at Tarawera Outlet and the junction with the track to Humphries Bay and Lake Okataina.