Tawhai Falls Track
A brief stepped walk to viewpoints above and beside Tawhai Falls.
Route overview
Descend to the upper viewpoint, optionally continue to the lower river-edge viewpoint and retrace the steps.
The track descends to an upper viewpoint where the river drops over an ancient lava flow. Additional steps reach the river edge for a more distant falls view. The fast-flowing river, slippery bank rocks and rapid flood response make supervision and conservative positioning essential.
Trail facts
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Tongariro National Park, Central North Island
- Distance
- 600 m return
- Typical duration
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation gain
- Short stepped descent and return; exact gain not published by DOC
- Best season
- Year-round except during flooding, ice or severe weather
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Rapid flooding, fast current, slippery rocks, crowded parking and winter ice
Highlights
Tawhai Falls, ancient lava flow, forested river gorge
Why find a buddy
A very low-commitment first meetup where a partner still adds value around river-edge and child-safety awareness.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.