Tauranga Waterfalls and Waterfall Walks

Each guide covers how long the walk takes, how hard it is and how high the falls are, from Kaiate Falls to the Wairere Falls Track.

Tauranga’s waterfalls sit mostly in the Kaimai foothills and Bay of Plenty hinterland rather than in the city itself. Kaiate Falls is the closest and one of the most-visited, with tiered pools you can walk down to. McLaren Falls sits within a large park and lake area, Omanawa Falls has an iconic deep bowl (with access restrictions worth checking), and Wairere Falls is the biggest, a walk out on the Kaimai Range.

Waterfalls near me: the Tauranga waterfall map

7 waterfalls in and around Tauranga. Tap one for the guide, or find one by tapping Waterfalls near me.

Pins from each waterfall guide.

All 7 waterfalls with a guide

7 waterfalls

Kaiate FallsTrack, Waterfalls and Reserve1 hr returnModerateDogs on leashKaiate Falls (Te Rerekawau) near Welcome Bay, Tauranga: the walking track, the series of cascades on the Kaiate Stream and reserve access.

McLaren Falls ParkCamping, Walks and ActivitiesNo dogsMcLaren Falls Park is a 190-hectare parkland beside Lake McLaren, just ten minutes by car from Tauranga.

Owharoa Falls TrackDay Trip to a Karangahake Gorge Waterfall5 min one way0.2 kmEasyDogs on leashOwharoa Falls Track: a 5-minute easy DOC walk to a waterfall in the Karangahake Gorge, a day trip from Tauranga. Parking, swimming and road alerts.

Raparapahoe FallsSteep Gorge Walk to a Pool near Te Puke3 m falls1 hr return1 kmDogs on leashRaparapahoe Falls near Te Puke: a steep 60-minute return track through tawa forest to a 3 m waterfall and large pool. Parking, fitness and dogs.

Te Rere o ŌmanawaOmanawa Falls Tauranga Walking Tracks35 m fallsToiletsTe Rere o Ōmanawa (Omanawa Falls) near Tauranga: three lookout platforms over the 35 m falls, a forest walkway with stairs and carved pou. No swimming.

Wairere Falls TrackHike to North Island's Highest Waterfall3-4 hr return5 km returnEasy to moderateToiletsWairere Falls is the highest waterfall in New Zealand's North Island at 153 metres.

Whataroa FallsForest Track to a Swimming Hole in Ōtanewainuku15 minEasyToiletsWhataroa Falls: 15 min on the Rimu Loop, then about 60 min one way through Ōtanewainuku Forest to a swimming hole and picnic spot. Dogs and parking.