Okere Falls

Okere Falls is a small town located 21 km from Rotorua on SH 33 between Rotorua and Tauranga on the North Island of New Zealand. The town is a popular spot for fishing & rafting and is known for its beautiful lakeside and waterfalls. There are commercial rafting companies and holiday park accommodation within the town. A seven metre high waterfall lays claim to being the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world.

The Okere River is a site of significant Māori cultural and spiritual values. Okere River meaning "the place of drifting", is an 11 km stretch of the Kaituna River. A well-formed bushwalk with scenic lookouts over Okere River and its spectacular waterfalls can be found on Trout Pool road.

Okere Falls was the site of an early hydro-electric power station which brought electricity to Rotorua in 1901. The Okere Falls power station was the first power station built by the New Zealand government, and it remained in operation until 1936.