Tarawera Falls Waterfall

Website: https://www.doc.govt.nz

Admission: Free (access dependent; some private operators charge for guided walks/boats)

Tarawera Falls is a prominent waterfall on the Tarawera River in New Zealand’s North Island, notable for a high single drop over a basalt cliff. The present waterfall is commonly cited at about 65 metres in height and is boxed by columnar basalt rock.

A compact viewing area and short walking approaches provide close views of the cascade and plunge pool; the site is popular with day visitors and photographers. The river that forms the falls drains Lake Tarawera and continues toward the Bay of Plenty.

The current fall geometry was formed after the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, which altered drainage patterns on the mountain and in the surrounding catchments. Since then the falls have been a fixed feature in local topography and recreation.

Tarawera Falls sits in the Bay of Plenty region, between the Rotorua and Kawerau districts, on the Tarawera River corridor and is accessible from nearby roads and car parks serving local walking tracks.

• Height: The waterfall has an approximate vertical drop of 65 metres and is notable for its basalt cliff setting.
• Access and conditions: The falls are reached by short walking tracks and riverbank viewpoints; conditions can be slippery after rain so allow sturdy footwear.

What to See#

• Tarawera Falls: The single main cascade drops over a basalt cliff into a broad pool and is the primary viewing feature accessed from nearby tracks.
• Basalt amphitheatre and rockwork: Basalt rock faces and columnar formations that frame the fall and are visible from the riverbank viewing points.
• Tarawera River channel: The Tarawera River downstream of the falls, which carries water from Lake Tarawera toward the Bay of Plenty.

Tarawera Falls is reached from Rotorua or Kawerau by a combination of rural roads and walking tracks. Some approaches require river-side tracks and short forest walks; private operators offer boat or guided access in some seasons. Check Department of Conservation (DOC) pages for current track conditions and any access advisories.

• Start early in summer to avoid afternoon clouds and to enjoy the clearest views of the falls.
• If using a boat service to approach the falls, confirm seasonal operation - meltwater and debris can close the lake to boats.
• Ask local DOC (Department of Conservation) or ranger stations for recent track conditions; heavy rain rapidly affects river crossings.