Korokoro Falls is roughly a 3.5-4 hours drive away from Rotorua or 4 hours from Napier. Don’t rely on Google trip time estimations. The road is a typical winding one with lots of ‘zigzags’ and unsealed surface. We recommend a 4-WD vehicle for this journey.

Driving from Rotorua: travel south on the SH-5, then turn left into the SH-38, a sealed road, which becomes a gravel winding road for the last 40km.  

Driving from Napier: travel north on the SH-2, then turn left into the SH-38, a sealed road, which becomes a gravel one for the last 40km. The last 20 km is a zigzag road, sometimes one-way one, which runs along the lake's shore.

This waterfall is found along the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk. From SH-38 (Waikaremoana Rd) turn right (if drive from Rotorua) to Haowhenua Ridge Rd. There is a sign 'Access to The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk' at Waikaremoana Rd just before the intersection.

A huge car park is located at the end of Haowhenua Ridge Rd near the Hopuruahine Suspension Bridge - the start (or end) of the Lake Waikaremoana Walk. Lake Waikaremoana track can be walked in either direction.

Korokoro side track is reached on a second or third day of the walk (depends on how fast you are). The sign to the track is 5 minutes past Korokoro Campsite or 1.5 hrs from Waiopaoa Hut. The track itself is moderate one, requiring a stream crossing which could be a 'dry shoes' crossing during summer time. It takes roughly 25-30 minutes from the main track to reach the waterfall.

After the stream crossing, you have a choice - either follow the official track or follow the stream bed. The official track requires some climbing and leads you to a small viewpoint in front of the waterfall. The track can be slippery. If you choose the stream bed, you need to walk up to waterfall's base, and you will be able to 'wash your hands' at the waterfall (also slippery!).

Return via the same track.

To stay overnight in a hut or campsite on Lake Waikaremoana Walk you must have a booking prior to starting the track.

Alternativly, you can catch a water taxi from Lake Waikaremoana Motorcamp to Korokoro Campside. In this case, you'll need to do only 1-1.5 hours return track instead of 4 days walk.

Many thanks to Irina Babicheva and Konstantin Pastbin for a couple of cool waterfall's photos (please refer to the Gallery).