Tarawera River at Kawerau
Ready for whitewater fun? If you’ve got play boats, slalom kayaks, or maybe a couple of old car inner tubes, you’ll have a great time in Kawerau. The Tarawera river passes right by the town. Alongside Boyce Park and Firmin Field, there’s an 800-metre-long stretch of grade 2-3 rapids, with kayak slalom gates.
If you’re not an expert, start at the bottom where the rapids are easier, then move upriver as your skills improve. With several access points, you can easily portage boats between runs.
Trip time
A skilled paddler can easily play in the slalom course rapids for half an hour each run. A straight run down takes under ten minutes. The Tarawera has a good flow all year round.
Refreshment/car parking
You’ll find toilets and shops within 1 km. There’s unlimited parking in and around Kawerau’s tree-lined riverside parks.
To get to the main part of the slalom course, turn down River Road and onto Waterhouse Road, then head left onto the dirt road just before the Tarawera Bridge. Access the top end of the rapid from Boyce Park.
Other paddles
Upstream of the rapids, there’s handy flat water, good for multi-sport kayak training or a cruise. You can put-in at Roy Western Park, which is at the end of Poirritt Drive.
The river moves fairly swiftly in places, but there are no rapids. It’s a lovely bush-edged paddle, with glimpses of Mt Edgecumbe/Putauaki. An experienced paddler can go around 40 minutes upstream, 20 minutes return.
Safety/environment
On the flat water, watch for submerged logs and riverside willows. Only use the full slalom course if you have appropriate skills, and wear a helmet.
Photography credit: BOP Canoe and Kayak via virtuallyontrack.co.nz
