Omanawa: Waterfalls, technical history and nature

Omanawa brings together a place sacred to Ngāti Hangarau for generations, the history of hydroelectric power, and a range of nature and wildlife experiences. Ōmanawa Falls, Omanawa Falls Power Station, a large lake park, a section of trail with many steps, and Marshalls Animal Park each offer a different focus. As you plan your trip, you can decide whether to focus mainly on cultural history, exercise, nature, or animals.

Cultural significance and technical history

Ōmanawa Falls has been a sacred place to Ngāti Hangarau for generations. This significance is part of the character of the place and gives a visit a cultural dimension beyond the natural experience. If you choose destinations for more than their scenery, this inherited connection is an important part of the Omanawa story.

The history of hydroelectric power is also distinctive here: Omanawa Falls Power Station was completed in 1915 and was New Zealand’s first underground hydroelectric power station. Its completion date and underground construction make it a clear historical focus. Together with the cultural significance of Ōmanawa Falls, they offer two different perspectives on Omanawa: a place sacred for generations and a notable part of New Zealand’s technical history.

Trails, lake park and wildlife experiences

Plan for the physical demands of the trail section between Wairere Tapu Lookout and Te Harikoa Lookout at Ōmanawa Falls: it includes several hundred steps and requires a moderate to high level of physical fitness. This specific information can help you tailor your plans to the abilities of your travel companions if you are considering this particular section.

McLaren Falls is a 190-hectare lake park with extensive trails and one of the best collections of trees on the North Island. This expansive parkland, with its trails and notable tree collection, adds to Omanawa’s other nature-focused attractions. You can decide which experiences suit your interests by considering their different focuses, without reducing them to a single kind of outing.

Marshalls Animal Park is a 35-acre attraction featuring animals and family-oriented activities. It adds a distinct focus on animals and family activities to the cultural, technical and scenic themes. For families planning a trip, this focus may be a factor when choosing experiences; however, it does not indicate which other offerings will suit individual travel companions.

You can then research hotels in Omanawa and plan your trip around the experiences that matter to you.

More highlights in the Western Bay of Plenty District

As a broader travel context, the Western Bay of Plenty District also offers distinct cultural, coastal and culinary themes. In Katikati, a town-centre walking trail leads from Haiku Park along paths where haiku are carved into rocks and the pavement. It follows the Uretara Stream, crosses a footbridge to Uretara Landing, then continues along the main road to murals and other artworks in the town centre. Individual installations may change. The trail thus combines poetry in public spaces with a walk beside a stream, across a bridge and past artworks.

Also in Katikati, the Katikati Cuisine Trail offers the chance to meet local artisan food producers and sample their products on site. Individual producers and offerings may change. Town-centre culture and insights into food production are two different ways to discover Katikati.

For a different landscape perspective in the Western Bay of Plenty District, the Orokawa Bay Walk begins at the northern end of Waihī Beach and crosses coastal headlands to Orokawa Bay. The walk takes about 45 minutes each way; tides and swell affect access. Along the way, the trail passes through dense bush with pōhutukawa, kauri and puriri trees, as well as native nikau palms. Orokawa Bay is part of a 145-hectare scenic reserve. The approximate walking time and access conditions are useful points to consider if you include this coastal experience in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Mount Maunganui, Ohauiti, Omokoroa and Tauranga.

For the broader travel overview: Tauranga District.