Tawarau / Were Road to Te Anga, III-IV (V) (P)

The Tawarau is part of a convoluted catchment of rivers north of Piopio. The Mangaohoe joins the Tawarau which joins the Marakopa at Te Anga and flows to the coast at the small holiday settlement of Marakopa. Confused? It is all easy once on the river. I hope! A trip on this river has a real wilderness feel as it runs through native forest for almost its entire length. Towering limestone cliffs, some right out of the river, escort the river on its journey to the sea.

The Mangahoe/Tawarau trip needs some rain to be at its best. From the put in paddle 400 metres to the start of the first gorge. Get out where the fence meets the river on the left side and walk 10-15mins along the formed track (which goes the length of the run). Below the gorge there are two sieves that are easily portaged at river level. Between here and the Tawarau confluence are a series of small, fun ledge drops. The water doubles at the confluence and the scenery keeps getting better. Not far downstream from here is a good play hole which makes a great lunch spot.

From here the action picks up. The first rapid is a 100m long channel only 2m wide followed by a double drop with the first drop pushing hard into an undercut rock. Another narrow drop into a pool puts you right above Dagger Falls, a three metre drop with a sizeable hole. After Dagger falls is Bob's Fall's which has a powerful hole and is capable of recirculating swimmers and gear for some time but is easily portaged on river right. From here it is only a short paddle to the takeout where the river flows through a massive sieve. Walk down the farm track to the waiting shuttle driver at the end of Speedies road. If you decide to portage this rapid do so on the left and from the base of this rapid to the Marakopa confluence there is some class IV water. Once at the confluence another 10minutes will see you at the Te Anga Tavern.

To get to the put-in: From Piopio, turn west at the cross roads in Piopio signposted to Mairoa. A short distance past the Mairoa Hall the road forks, turn left (signposted Ngapenga) and follow this gravel road to Were Rd. drive to the end of the road and the put-in.

To get to the take out: Back track to the Waipuna Rd and follow this until you reach the Waitomo/Te Anga Rd. Turn left and drive 20mins to Speedies Rd at Te Anga. There is good paddling for the poor shuttle driver beside Speedies road and great accommodation at Waitomo caves village.