Kawerau

Kawerau

Hot pool complex behind where we were parked - Mt Edgecombe in background

Autumn freedom camping

On the track to Tarawera Falls

Kawerau may seem an unlikely destination but it is a freedom camping friendly town with free hot pools!  We parked up in the centre of town (it's small) and had a couple of soaks over the days we were there.  We got a permit and drove half an hour through forestry to a DOC camp at Lake Tarawera.  From here we walked to Tawarewa Falls.  The track goes beside quite a few other waterfalls before the river goes underground then comes out of a cliff face at the falls.  We were a bit underwhelmed as the pictures show a much higher waterfall - but it has been a dry summer!