Kawerau is known for its gardens and reserves. They’re all close to town and offer a perfect place for a sunny weekend walk.
If you are thinking of hiring one of these parks or gardens for a ceremony or event, start by contacting the Council Office and discussing your ideas with our staff. Contact us >>
Please refer to the "Facilities for Hire" section of the Kawerau Council Fees & Charges document for the current charges.
Prideaux Park (Plunket Street)
Our most central sports ground is located off Plunket Street. A mere five minute walk from the shopping centre, this picturesque reserve, with a variety of attractive, mature trees around the perimeter is used year-round for a wide range of sporting activities and community events. It is used for cricket, athletics, netball, outdoor bowls, marching, dog shows etc. Adjacent to Prideaux Park there are bowling greens, a recreation centre, BMX and skateboarding track and our town's swimming pool complex.
Tarawera Park (Cobham Drive)
Our largest sports ground, Tarawera Park is the home of the Kawerau Sports Club (with lights for evening training sessions) and caters for a wide range of sporting codes including rugby, touch rugby, rugby league and soccer and is especially suitable for large events and tournaments. This picturesque park is situated at the south end of the town and is bordered by the Tarawera River. The main access is from Cobham Drive.
Boyce Park (Tamarangi Drive/River Road intersection)
Located by the Tarawera River at the Tamarangi Drive/River Road intersection, this was the first park to be established in Kawerau. The Kawerau Judo Club and other martial arts groups use the building on the reserve.
Waterhouse Reserve and Firmin Field (South End of Waterhouse Street)
The Tarawera River sits at the foot of Putauaki and passes along the eastern edge of both the Waterhouse Street and Firmin Field reserves. A purpose made whitewater slalom course running the length of the reserves has recently been upgraded with a new viewing walkway and electronic timing system. Firmin Lodge, a modern 60 bed facility is perfectly placed to accommodate groups looking to explore whatever level of adventure you seek, whilst keeping the cost down.
Monika Lanham Reserve
Situated in the centre of Kawerau this reserve is named after the late Monika Lanham. She was a councillor and deputy mayor of Kawerau and a woman who for many years was involved with education and industry in local community.
Two of the town water supply reservoirs are on this reserve. A number of walking tracks cross the reserve and link opposite sides of the town.
Opunoke
Opunoke is the Māori name for the western area of the reserve hill that overlooks the Kawerau township.
In pre-European times, the large open valley atop the reserve was used by the Ngati Tuwharetoa tribe as ‘maara’ or gardens for growing kumara. The meaning of the name Opunoke relates to the plentiful yield these gardens produced (‘pu’ meaning tribe or many, ‘noke’ meaning worms).
The warm grounds of the geothermal area at the base of Opunoke (opposite the town swimming pool) proved ideal in helping the kumara to sprout.
There may be evidence of kumara pits near the water storage tanks. These would have been used for storage of kumara through the winter months.
Trees for babies
Each year families with a new baby are welcome to register their baby’s name with the Council. Around Arbor Day there is a ceremony and registered families are given a tree to plant in Monika Lanham Reserve to celebrate their new arrival.
Other Reserves
Several smaller reserves throughout the town provide passive recreation areas within easy walking distance of most homes. These include the Lyn Hartley Reserve off Ward Street and Stoneham Park off Peter Lippa Drive. The Hilldale Reserve, located between Hardie Avenue and Beattie Road, has also been developed as a passive reserve and is the only authorised golf practice area in the town.
Picnic Areas and Walkways
Kawerau has several very pleasant walks. A map is available from the Kawerau i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
Stoneham Walk
This walk is only a hop, skip and a jump from the town centre, is a place of rare beauty.
Its catalyst is the stunningly-beautiful Ruruanga Stream, which meanders lazily through Stoneham Glade, where a stone bridge, scented gardens and plantings of herbs can make you feel like you're in an English Park. The walk takes you through groves of native and exotic trees and shrubs, past places where trout can be caught, where children splash about in swimming holes in summer and where families love to picnic.
For people with disabilities and for wedding cars, the Council will open the gates at Fenton Mill Road by prior arrangement. For this service, contact the Council, Ph (07) 306 9009.
Tarawera River Margins Walk
This stunning walk provides a link to Tarawera Forest from State Highway 34, from the Tamarangi Drive Bridge, via Tarawera High School, Waterhouse Street to the golf course and over the town water supply pipe bridge to the Tarawera Forest. From this point the walk extends towards the Tarawera Falls, but stops some distance short of the Falls.
Ruruanga Stream Walkway
This dedicated junior anglers' stream is stocked regularly with trout and is also a popular swimming place. Its grassy banks provide restful picnic spots and the area attracts many species of birds, including tuis. The walkway provides a link from Prideaux Park on Tamarangi Drive, to Stoneham Walk.