Navigation hazards - waterfalls
The Waikato region has a wealth of streams and rivers that are well suited for recreational uses such as kayaking and canoeing. 
However, it is important to realise that amongst the natural beauty there are a number of waterfalls and rapids that may be hazardous - especially if you don't know what's around the next bend in the river.
This page lists the map coordinates and locations of areas throughout the region that have been identified as possible areas with hazards. Before you set out it is always a good idea to seek local advice, especially if you're exploring a new area. We recommend contacting the local kayaking or canoeing association, or local kayak or canoe retailers - their advice about the area could prove invaluable.
If you know of other hazardous areas that aren't listed here, please let us know by emailing kim.parker@waikatoregion.govt.nz with the details.
Franklin
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Maraetai Stream |
2664741.9 |
6419390.8 |
|
| Moewaka Stream |
2672039.7 |
6422477 |
|
| Moewaka Stream |
2672571.9 |
6423019.9 |
|
| Moewaka Stream |
2672563.6 |
6423636 |
|
| Pakau Stream |
2668128.8 |
6427419.2 |
|
| Tributary of Huriwai River |
2666351.7 |
6419321.8 |
|
Matamata-Piako
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Waitakaruru Stream, Morrinsville |
2733108 |
6389842 |
|
Otorohanga
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Kaimango Stream |
2685903.5 |
6339361.1 |
|
| Kuritunu Stream |
2682002.8 |
6332111.9 |
|
| Mangakomua Stream |
2735733.6 |
6331299.7 |
|
| Mangarata Stream |
2734291.9 |
6328680.6 |
|
| Mangare Stream |
2740642.9 |
6331242.9 |
|
| Owhiro Stream |
2674614.9 |
6337090.8 |
|
| Puniu River |
2732051.6 |
6317635.9 |
|
| Puniu River |
2732053.8 |
6317746 |
|
| Te Toi Stream |
2677571.7 |
6335472.8 |
|
| Tributary of Awaroa River |
2679861.2 |
6329942.3 |
|
| Tributary of Awaroa River |
2680933.7 |
6330447.4 |
|
| Tributary of Awaroa River |
2681849 |
6334750.3 |
|
| Tributary of Lake Waipapa |
2744432.8 |
6319574.6 |
|
| Tributary of Owawenga Stream |
2717427.4 |
6312907.5 |
|
| Tributary of Waipari Stream |
2733585.5 |
6329900.1 |
|
| Waiharakeke Stream |
2672707.4 |
6332616 |
|
| Waiharakeke Stream |
2672824.4 |
6332968.6 |
|
| Waipapa River |
2738901.7 |
6308194.1 |
|
| Waipari Stream |
2734491 |
6318280 |
|
| Waipari Stream |
2734860.7 |
6320060.9 |
|
| Wharangi Stream |
2736531.5 |
6306654.1 |
|
South Waikato
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Waihou River |
2756286.06 |
6357165.56 |
Okoroire Falls |
Taupo
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Kotukutuku Stream |
2750908 |
6277488.4 |
|
| Mangahouhounui Stream |
2741774 |
6227189.3 |
|
| Mangatawai Stream |
2743030.3 |
6225191.9 |
|
| Mangatawai Stream |
2742626.2 |
6225557.1 |
|
| Mangatawai Stream |
2743181.2 |
6225119.8 |
|
| Oturere Stream |
2742415.2 |
6224030.9 |
|
| Piaranui Stream |
2750941.3 |
6274276.6 |
Otupoto Falls |
| Poutu Stream |
2750415.2 |
6232501.2 |
Poutu Falls |
| Tauranga Taupo River |
2771725.4 |
6238858.1 |
|
| Tongariro River |
2752351 |
6222205.8 |
Tree Trunk Gorge |
| Tongariro River |
2754139.1 |
6226440.1 |
Waikato Falls |
| Tongariro River, stump hazard |
2753974 |
6241807 |
Island Pool |
| Tributary of Hinemaiaia Stream |
2783050.3 |
6240574.4 |
|
| Tributary of Hinemaiaia Stream |
2783065.6 |
6241064.7 |
|
| Tributary of Magatete Stream |
2810906.8 |
6299098.9 |
|
| Tributary of Kakapo Stream |
2773092.3 |
6231187.1 |
|
| Tributary of Wairakei Stream |
2779180.6 |
6283673 |
|
| Unknown coastal stream |
2750869.6 |
6275354.9 |
|
| Unknown coastal stream |
2751011 |
6275691.6 |
|
| Waihaha River |
2746321.2 |
6272969.8 |
Tieke Falls |
| Waihi Stream |
2747886.9 |
6247517.3 |
Waihi Falls |
| Waihora Stream |
2752754.2 |
6278329.4 |
|
| Waikato River |
2778929 |
6279114 |
Huka Falls |
| Waikato River |
2783601 |
6282611 |
Aratiatia Rapids |
| Waikato River |
2787480 |
6283796 |
Fulljames Rapids |
| Waikato River, tree hazard left hand side |
2778257 |
6276036 |
Cherry Island |
| Waikino Stream |
2747567.7 |
6269294.1 |
Waikino Falls |
| Waiotaka River |
2767033.3 |
6227440.6 |
|
| Wairere Stream |
2771066.4 |
6254406.1 |
|
| Whanganui Stream |
2746660.5 |
6265431.8 |
Whanganui Falls |
| Whanganui Stream |
2736609 |
6264905 |
Maniatangaroa Falls |
Thames-Coromandel
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Atuatumoe Stream |
2748593.9 |
6456048.2 |
|
| Atuatumoe Stream |
2748666.4 |
6456052.6 |
|
| Atuatumoe Stream |
2748690.9 |
6456023.3 |
|
| Awahau Stream |
2757654.7 |
6463616.7 |
|
| Black Swan Stream |
2737261.1 |
6463163.9 |
|
| Black Swan Stream |
2737472.7 |
6463061.6 |
|
| Boom Stream |
2760248.3 |
6450232.2 |
|
| Doctors Creek |
2727111.4 |
6516731.2 |
|
| Fifth Branch Tairua River |
2751843.5 |
6443363.6 |
|
| Fourth Branch Tairua River |
2748429.9 |
6446938.3 |
|
| Fourth Branch Tairua River |
2748804.4 |
6447370.1 |
|
| Kaituna Stream |
2757004.1 |
6445434.3 |
|
| Kotorepupuai Stream |
2747385.9 |
6442566.6 |
|
| Matatoki Stream |
2744634.7 |
6442672.9 |
|
| Matatoki Stream |
2747639.5 |
6440544 |
|
| Matawai Stream |
2737708.6 |
6486013.6 |
|
| Motutere Stream |
2738720 |
6482603.2 |
Motutere Falls |
| Ngarua Stream |
2750739.2 |
6448265.3 |
|
| Ngarua Stream |
2749937.2 |
6449120.5 |
|
| Opango Stream |
2748405 |
6453039.8 |
|
| Oteao Stream |
2750821.9 |
6466240.2 |
|
| Purangi River |
2755424.5 |
6477481.1 |
|
| Rangihau Stream |
2748652.6 |
6462627.6 |
|
| Rangihau Stream |
2749148.8 |
6463889.5 |
|
| Slip Stream |
2751061.5 |
6464325.4 |
|
| Starvation Creek |
2748263.9 |
6460277.4 |
|
| Starvation Creek |
2748734.9 |
6461973.4 |
|
| Taiari Stream |
2754839.2 |
6416389.8 |
Owharoa Falls |
| Taiari Stream |
2754874.4 |
6416528.6 |
Owharoa Falls |
| Tapu River |
2737883.2 |
6463857.8 |
|
| Te Tipi Stream |
2747945 |
6461484.4 |
|
| Tributary of Kohuamuri Stream |
2753566.2 |
6478195.2 |
|
| Tributary of Tairua River |
2753290.2 |
6452524.9 |
|
| Tributary of Taiwawe Stream |
2760085.7 |
6474889.4 |
|
| Waiau River |
2737612.2 |
6482207.6 |
Waiau Falls |
| Waikanae Stream |
2735034.7 |
6505587 |
|
| Wairore Stream |
2734223.7 |
6500842.8 |
|
| Waiwawa River |
2746999.4 |
6459237.9 |
|
| Waterfall Stream |
2756668.1 |
6410482.3 |
|
| Waterfall Stream |
2756473.1 |
6410913.5 |
|
| Wentworth River |
2758653.7 |
6434323.3 |
|
Waikato
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Mangataru Stream |
2678148.5 |
6404066.4 |
Te Herehere Falls |
| Pakihi Stream |
2682758.6 |
6365053.4 |
|
| Pakoka River |
2676955.9 |
6364325.7 |
Bridal Veil Falls |
| Waikaretu Stream |
2672240.4 |
6405664.8 |
|
Waipa
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Arapuni Dam |
2741839.3 |
6345144.4 |
|
| Pokaiwhenua Stream |
2748780.4 |
6346255.1 |
|
Waitomo
| Location |
NZMG easting |
NZMG northing |
Name of falls (where known) |
| Mapara Stream |
2702353 |
6298600.2 |
|
| Mapiu Stream |
2698291.6 |
6295288.6 |
Omaru Falls |
| Marokopa River |
2672203.8 |
6325230.2 |
Marokopa Falls |
| Mokau River |
2685211.8 |
6295004.2 |
Wairere Falls |
| Mokau River |
2697610 |
6307845.1 |
Tauanui Rapids |
| Paritikona Stream |
2706584.8 |
6301023.2 |
Hikurangi Falls |
| Pomarangai Stream |
2669626.1 |
6313671.6 |
|
| Puaroa Stream |
2668988.2 |
6324353.3 |
|
| Puaroa Stream |
2668878.2 |
6324332.1 |
|
| Rarotaiko Stream |
2667752.4 |
6320740.8 |
|
| Tributary of Maokauiti Stream |
2701452.1 |
6289268.2 |
|
| Tributary of Maokauiti Stream |
2701368.3 |
6289593.1 |
|
| Tributary of Mapara Stream |
2701049.1 |
6298146.8 |
Maddonna Falls |
| Waitanguru Stream |
2673431.8 |
6310469.5 |
Waitanguru Falls |