Things to do at Okere Falls

Okere Falls sits on the Kaituna River about 20 minutes northeast of Rotorua by car, and it does two jobs at once.

Rafting trips run the river over a series of drops that end at Tutea Falls, a 7-metre ledge that operators market as the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world; a half-day trip typically runs 100 to 150 NZD per person and includes a stretch of genuinely steep, fast water rather than a scenic float.

If you'd rather not get wet, a free walking track follows the true right bank from the car park on Trout Pool Road, dropping through native bush to lookout points above the falls and the gorge below — allow 30 to 45 minutes return. Both options work in any season; the river is dam-controlled, so flow is more consistent than on a natural catchment, though operators can still cancel in flood conditions.