Tarawera / Wooden Road Bridge to Concrete Bridge, II

The Tarawera
River begins at the eastern end of Lake Tarawera under the shadow of the
mountain of the same name famous for its cataclysmic eruption in 1886 which
buried the pink and white terraces. The river drains the popular lake and heads
east to the coast through some impressive volcanic geology and via the township
of Kawerau. Kayakers have been using the river for years but mainly through
Kawerau where the slalom site is situated. The upper river has received more
attention in the last few years and offers some enjoyable paddling.

The geology
poses some interesting problems. In the top section the river suddenly
disappears amongst some rocks and reappears 500m downstream as a 30m waterfall
gushing out of a crevice in the rock face. The river flows underground because
of a series of lava flow cliffs which blocked the river about 11,000 years ago.
The porous rhyolite is cracked and creviced and the water has found its way
through in these.

From below the last (small wooden) road
bridge on the way to the falls is a popular beginner class II trip and the
normal put in with many fast exciting rapids and riffles. Get out at one of the
concrete bridges.

It is possible to paddle all the way to the
town but it is mostly flat. The class II-III slalom course runs the length of
the rugby fields on the edge of town.