Tarawera Outlet to Falls Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

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Location & access

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.

Official location information

Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -38.17244, 176.51778. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.

DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.

Key facts

Distance: 5 km one way
Walking time: 2 hr one way
Track grade: Easy
Location: Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve
Dog access: No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.

Route overview

See the Tarawera River disappearing underground at various sites before it re-emerges through the spectacular Tarawera Falls through narrow fissures in a fractured rhyolite lava cliff.

This DOC directory entry covers Tarawera Outlet to Falls Track in Bay of Plenty, within Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

Distance: 5 km one way
Walking time: 2 hr one way
DOC grade: Easy

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

The track can be walked in either direction and accessed from either end:

The Outlet to Tarawera Falls: access by boat or walking Northern Tarawera Track. The Outlet is not accessible by road.
Tarawera Falls to The Outlet: access by parking at the Tarawera Falls Track car park – see permit requirements in the Getting there section.

The description below describes starting from The Outlet.

The track begins at the Tarawera Outlet bridge. Cross the bridge and take the right hand track at the junction. The track meanders through the native bush, largely following the river.

If you're going to swim beside the track we recommend caution, due to underwater currents and the nature of the river. However, a popular swimming spot is around 1 hour 30 minutes from the Outlet, at a wider and shallower stretch of the river where the water runs more gently.

Shortly afterwards, the track divides for a brief distance before both tracks rejoin. The track then zigzags down a steep escarpment to a viewing area at the base of the falls.

Where the track skirts the top of Tarawera Falls, it's possible to reach the cliff-face with high drop-offs. Stay behind barriers, keep to the track and keep your children supervised.

The Waterfall Road carpark is a short 20 minute walk past the falls. For those wanting to picnic beside the river, there is a beautiful spot just 100 metres back along Waterfall Road from the carpark.

Facilities: Toilets are located at Tarawera Outlet and at the Tarawera Falls carpark. There is a viewing area with a seat at the falls.

Getting there

Access to the Tarawera Falls carpark is from Kawerau township (off SH30 between Rotorua and Whakatane) via private forestry roads. A permit is required and access is only available for Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. The forest gate is closed during the hours of darkness. The forest road may be closed in summer when fire risk is high. A map and directions are available at the Kawerau Information Centre.

Access permits

You'll need to get a permit to access Tarawera Falls Carpark. Overnight parking at the Tarawera Falls Carpark is not permitted.

Use of the private forestry roads in the forest is at the discretion of the forestry owners. Check the conditions of your forestry permit.

Access permits can be obtained from the Kawerau isite Visitor Information Centre.

Kawerau isite Visitor Information CentrePlunket Street, Kawerau 3127Phone: +64 7 323 6300Email: infocentre@kaweraudc.govt.nzOpening hours for Kawerau isite Visitor Information Centre

Know before you go

Fall risk

There is a risk of falling on sections of this track due to cliffs. Keep to the marked track and avoid cliff edges. Keep children within sight and do not let them near edges.

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.