Tarawera Cascades are roughly a 1.5-2 hours drive away from Rotorua. If you drive from Rotorua, take SH30, then turn right to Kawerau where you must obtain a permit (address is below). From Kawerau take Fenton Mill Road and follow the signs ‘waterfall’. As soon as you’re in the forest follow Waterfall Rd which is not well-maintained forestry road with gravel surface as well as huge holes and cracks on it. We recommend a 4 WD vehicle for this road; however, a usual car can make it, if you drive carefully. The road is a private one and requires a permit.

There is a car park at the end of Waterfall Rd with toilets.

A walking 40 minutes return Tarawera Falls track leads to the waterfalls base lookout.  From here continue along the tramping track Tarawera Outlet. This track climbs from Tarawera Falls lookout and follows the river. In roughly 10 minutes you will reach first rapids, then continue walking the main track to see more waterfalls/rapids until you reach the main cascade (as per the main photo) with a huge pool at its bottom. It is a great place for a picnic. There is a sign 'NO SWIM' as the bottom of this pool is one of the entrances to the underground river. Swimming hole (suitable for swimming) is found a few hundreds meters upstream.

From here either come back via the same route (total walking time is 1hr 20min), or continue up to Tarawera Lake (total walking tims is 4hrs return).

The track goes up to Tarawera Lake where you have options to return via the same track or continue along Tarawera Lake tramping track.

From 1 August 2018, permits to the Tarawera Falls and Tarawera Outlet will be issued from the office of Maori Investments Limited. Permits cost $10.00 per vehicle not per person.

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 the 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.

Maori Investments Limited

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