About halfway along the Kaituna River’s Okere Falls Track, there is an access path to the seven-metre-high Tutea Falls and Caves. Local Māori used the caves’ difficult access for protection during war. As with visits to the Okere Falls, this walk has long been part of the NZ tourism industry, dating back to the 1800s. Tutea Falls were named for a Māori chief buried in a cave behind the falls.
Head down the steps above the Kaituna River. As it drops down, the track is carved into the side of the cliff face, overlooking the falls and large pool below. This section is narrow with short tunnels but well-protected by a fence. At the bottom of the steps is a modest cave entrance (a different one to the gravesite of Tutea) and a viewing platform.
If you do the Rotorua Rafting Kaituna River trip, the drop over the Tutea Falls is the most thrilling moment. This drop is the highest commercially accessible rafting drop in the world. If you arrive while a trip is in progress, the platform will be occupied by photographers, and safety support will be provided for anyone who needs rescuing after going over the falls! Don’t worry too much – I’ve done the trip, fallen out, and lived to write about it!
