Te Auheke, meaning “tumbling water”, is a short forest walk near Lake Ōkataina in the Rotorua region. It is an easy 1.5 km loop track through regenerating and mature forest. About halfway along, you reach a cliff face covered with moss and ferns. There is a short side trip up a stream to the Cascade Waterfall, a gentle 10-metre waterfall with two main streams and several trickles over the moss and protruding rocks. At night, there are also glow worms.
Several other short-loop walks can be easily connected to Te Aukeke. The best is the Ngahopua Track, which starts opposite the turnoff to the Outdoor Education Centre on Lake Okataina Road.
To get to the start of Te Auheke, take the turn off to the centre, about 6 km along Lake Okataina Road from State Highway 30. Watch out for the rather extreme road humps designed to slow you down! From the car park at the start of the Western Okataina Walkway, head west across the wide grass field behind the centre toward the forest edge. You will see the track sign as you get closer. The end of the loop comes out a short distance from the start of the loop.
