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McLaren wairere

McLaren Falls Park

McLaren Falls Park is 190 hectares of parkland set alongside Lake McLaren and is just ten minutes by car from Tauranga.

Ponga Grove Track is closed until further notice

Adverse weather events have caused extensive damage to the walkway.

Lakeside Track

Please be mindful of a major slip on the Lakeside Track, below Hamilton point. A diversion is in place.

The park rangerPark information and facilitiesCamping, accommodation and bookings | Weddings and events | Bringing your horse | Trout fishingWairoa River and McLaren Falls | Disc golf course | Fees and helpful links 

One of the highlights of the park is the waterfall track where you can see glow worms after dusk.  Enjoy a short, easy stroll to the picturesque waterfall and spot the glow worms on either side of the track.  Part of the waterfall track is also wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly.

History of McLarens Falls Park (60kb pdf)

Park ranger

The McLaren Falls Park Ranger is on duty seven days a week and can be contacted by calling Council.

McLaren falls map (237kb pdf) McLaren Falls Park brochure (3.4mb pdf)

Park information and facilities

Park facilities Details
Opening hours Summer from 7.30am to 7.30pm, when daylight saving starts
Winter from 7.30am to 5.30pm, when daylight saving ends
Dogs Dogs are not permitted in the park, even in vehicles.
Alcohol Adults can bring, and drink alcohol responsibly while at the park. People under the age of 18 are not to bring or consume alcohol at the park.
Fires No open fires, braziers, or wood burners permitted in the park.
BBQs Electric barbeques are located at around the park at Top Flat, Bottom Flat, Pin Oak Flat, two in Cherry Bay and Hamilton Point.‘Bring your own’ gas BBQs are permitted within the park, unfortunately charcoal BBQs are prohibited due to the fire risk.
Marshalls Animal Park Accessed through the park and featuring domestic and exotic animals, a must-see for children. Phone 07 543 1099.
Falls Cafe Located by the information centre, phone 07 543 4976.
Walking tracks

Mclarens Falls parks walkways

Vehicle Speed 15km per hour (please ensure you watch for people and wildlife on and around roadways)

Weddings and events

At McLaren Falls we have three great locations for your wedding ceremony. They can each accommodate varying amounts of people.

Please select your location carefully based on how many guests you have attending. The maximum number we can accommodate is 75 people at Bottom Flat.

  • Bottom Flat - up to 75 people
  • Cherry Bay - up to 40 people
  • Rotary Grove - up to 45 people

Further information about holding weddings at council reserves can be found at Using our parks - weddings.

Bringing your horse

There is an equestrian area available for use at the rear of the park. Horses are not to be ridden throughout the rest of the park.

All horses must be unloaded and loaded in the designated equestrian parking area which can be accessed via Lower Maungapapa Road at the rear of the park.

If you would like to use the area for a clinic or event, please get in touch with TCC at parksbookings@tauranga.govt.nz

If you would like to use the jumps and clubroom, contact the Tauranga Pony Club, who can advise availability and costs. Please be mindful that the equestrian area is still open to the public.

McLaren Falls Park disc golf course

Our 18-basket disc golf course is among the most spectacular in the country. Follow the signs from the front gate to the start of the course at Pin Oak Flats.

View the disc golf course map (5mb pdf)

Should you have any enquires regarding the course please contact the Tauranga disc golf Facebook page.

Trout fishing

There is year-round fishing in Lake McLaren and in the Ruahihi Canal. You are required to have a fishing licence. You can buy a licence online from Fish and Game New Zealand or from participating sports shops. Season licences expire 30 September each year.

Wairoa River and McLaren Falls

On the Wairoa river near Tauranga, Manawa Energy runs the Kaimai Hydroelectric Power Scheme. This includes a superb recreational area, popular for kayaking, rafting, fishing, running and picnicking. To provide great white water for recreational kayakers and rafters, we regularly release water from McLaren Falls dam during warm months.

Tauranga City Council, Private Bag 12022, Tauranga, 3143, New Zealand |Terms of use|Privacy statement|Site map

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