Kawerau, a small town in the Bay of Plenty, was founded as recently as 1953 to support the then-new Tasman pulp and paper mill. The mill was taking its wood from the huge surrounding Kaingaroa exotic pine forest, which had been planted in the early 1900s following the destruction of old-growth native forest.
Unlike older towns in NZ, Kawerau was carefully planned before construction, and it has an impressive number of facilities and a town centre. Unfortunately, 1950s architecture and design do not age well, and reliance on forestry and milling is risky.
More recently, the town has developed facilities and options for visitors and it is the only place in the area with a proper shop or to have a meal. There are a couple of nice parks, including walks around the Tarawera River, which runs through the town.
It is also the gateway to Tarawera Falls. You must visit the visitor centre for a pass ($10 per vehicle). This provides access to Tarawera Falls Road, a private forestry road. The falls are possibly the most interesting waterfall on the North Island, and the walk is one of the best in NZ.
To get to Kawarau from Lake Rotoiti, State Highway 30 skirts two further lakes, Rotoehu and Rotomā, with modest hamlets. From Lake Rotomā, it climbs up into the Rotomā Forest (mostly native) and continues on to Whakatane on the Bay of Plenty coast. As you exit the Rotomā Forest, take the turnoff to Kawerau on SH34.
