Tarawera Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Swimming · Views · Wildlife

Completed in 2012, this trail finally connects the famous Hot Water Beach to Tarawera Rd as a land link replete with easy benched trail. A few very short sets of stairs around either end of the trail bookend what is some of the best singletrack running in the region.

A small slip has washed away the track in the first third (before Twin Streams) and an established diversion is in place.

From the Tarawera Trail carpark, the trail skirts around 'the Buried Village' before descending gradually to the lake.

From there the trail rolls gradually with only a handful of sustained climbs. Functioning toilets are peppered throughout the journey and fresh drinking water can be obtained from 'Twin Streams' (signposted) where groundwater emerges from natural springs very near the twin bridges.

The longest climb, 1.5 km in it's entirety follows Wairua, around 10km into the run.

Keep an eye out for wallabies which are common on the track year round.