Tutea Falls – a spectacular and powerful waterfall accessed via a cave

Summary: The Tutea Falls is located along the Kaituna River, along the Okere Falls walking track. It's the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world.

How to get there: Carpark and walking trail off Trout Pool Road
Walking distance to waterfall: 0.8km (return)
Duration: <1 hour
Grade: Easy
Type of waterfall: Cascade
Waterfall Rating: 4/5
Height of falls: 7m

The Tutea Falls is one of three waterfalls along the Kaituna River, near Rotorua (the others being the Kaituna Falls, and Okere Falls). It is named after the Māori chief whose remains are buried in the cave behind the falls. This section of the Kaituna River is popular with rafters and kayakers, due to the number of rapids and waterfalls. The Tutea Falls is believed to be the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world.

Getting to Tutea Falls

The carpark for this waterfall is located 21km from Rotorua at the start of Trout Pool Road (off the SH 33).

The waterfall is about halfway along the Okere Falls walking track, which is a 2.1km loop (allow an hour) and passes all three waterfalls, or about 0.8km return to the Tutea Falls from the first carpark. The walking track passes through Tutea’s Cave along Hinemoa’s Steps, before reaching the lookout platform over the waterfall.