Okere Falls is a small rural settlement on the western shore of Lake Rotoiti, 21 kilometres from Rotorua on State Highway 33 between Rotorua and Tauranga. The settlement covers 1.68 square kilometres and had an estimated population of approximately 370 as of June 2025. Okere Falls is best known as the starting point for white-water rafting on the Kaituna River — including the drop over Tutea Falls, a 7-metre waterfall that holds the record as the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. The settlement’s small permanent population belies its significance as one of Rotorua’s most visited adventure activity destinations.
Practical Information
| Location | On SH33, 21 km from Rotorua toward Tauranga — on the western shore of Lake Rotoiti |
| Area | 1.68 km² |
| Population | Approximately 370 (June 2025 estimate) |
| Character | Small lakeside settlement; significant visitor and adventure activity destination |
| Key activities | White-water rafting (Kaituna River); Okere Falls Track (walking); fishing; kayaking on Lake Rotoiti |
The Kaituna River and Tutea Falls
The Kaituna River exits Lake Rotoiti at the Okere Inlet and flows north toward the Bay of Plenty, dropping through a series of rapids and waterfalls in a narrow gorge. The most significant drop is Tutea Falls — a 7-metre vertical waterfall that is the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Multiple operators run Grade 5 white-water rafting trips down the Kaituna that include the Tutea Falls drop; the combination of the gorge’s intensity and the falls itself makes the Kaituna one of the most dramatic commercially run rivers in New Zealand.
Visitors who prefer not to raft can access the Okere Falls Track from the Trout Pool Road car park — a free DOC walking track that leads down through native bush to the river and provides viewing points above the gorge and the falls. The track is accessible to most fitness levels and gives a genuine sense of the river’s power from above.
Lake Rotoiti
Okere Falls sits on the Okere Inlet — the narrow western arm of Lake Rotoiti from which the Kaituna River exits. The broader Lake Rotoiti is one of the cleaner lakes in the Rotorua district (subject to ongoing management through the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme) and is used for fishing (rainbow trout), kayaking, and boating. The Okere Falls area gives access to the lake’s western end, while the main body of the lake stretches east and is further served by the communities of Mourea and Lake Rotoiti township.
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia — Okere Falls — geographic overview of the settlement and the Kaituna River.
DOC — Ōkere Falls Scenic Reserve — official track information for the Okere Falls Track and the scenic reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Okere Falls?
On SH33, 21 kilometres from Rotorua toward Tauranga, on the western shore of Lake Rotoiti. The settlement is at the point where the Kaituna River exits the lake.
What is Tutea Falls?
A 7-metre waterfall on the Kaituna River at Okere Falls — the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Multiple operators run Grade 5 rafting trips over it.
Can I see the falls without rafting?
Yes — the Okere Falls Track (from Trout Pool Road car park, signposted off SH33) is a free DOC walking track that descends to the river and provides viewpoints above the gorge and Tutea Falls.
What is Lake Rotoiti like at Okere Falls?
The Okere Inlet is the narrow western arm of Lake Rotoiti — calmer and more sheltered than the open lake. It is used for kayaking and fishing. The broader Lake Rotoiti is accessible further east.
How far is Okere Falls from Rotorua?
Approximately 21 kilometres — about 20–25 minutes by car on SH33.
Okere Falls is on Lake Rotoiti’s western shore. See the Tutea Falls guide for the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall, and the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve guide for the DOC walking track and gorge.
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