Jess is a Wanderer took a trip out to Kawerau in search of Tarawera Falls. Either accessed by boat or along a private road (which you need a $10 permit for), it's well worth making the effort to see this spectacular 65m drop.
Permits can be purchased Monday-Friday from the site at the start of the private road, seven days a week from the iSite in Kawerau or online via Doc. The road is unsealed and winding but the track to the falls is short and well-maintained. You could easily make the detour en route to or from Whakatane.
Once at the falls, you can either leave the car park in search of the main event and then turn back or carry on to the Tarawera Inlet which is around 4km one-way of cascades and mini falls through the bush. It ends at Lake Tarawera so you can treat yourself to a refreshing swim once you arrive. I didn't go all the way to the inlet because I'd run into the crater on Mount Tarawera the day before and ever so slightly damaged my leg so, feeling sorry for myself, I turned back at 3km. Now I have an excuse to return...
