The Taruarau River is a tributary of the Ngaruroro River it has a very steep and tricky gorge below the Napier Taihape Road. It is only runnable through winter and early spring or after rain. It has a great Class III+ – IV section known as the Hot Springs gorge, The run is very highly rated by whitewater kayakers. The water is a considerable step up from the nearby Lower Ngaruroro run. Notably, there are unportageable IV rapids to paddle. Elsewhere, with care and portages, it is a great trip for the experienced advanced paddler.
Trip options
The Taruarau itself ends where it meets the Ngaruroro, so broadly your options are:
- 2 days, car to car . Exit at Timahanga Stream (Timahanga Station, permission required)
- 3 days car to hike out. 30km on the river, plus 3hr +800m ascent to Comet Rd
- 4-5 days car to car. 55km on the river, including the Lower Ngaruroro trip and exit at Whanawhana Rd
View Larger Topographic Map
The description references Egarr with recent info from Greg Duley, Timon Maxey and Bill Thomson.
By Road
The put-in is the Taruarau River Bridge on the Napier Taihape road. Put a shuttle vehicle at the end of Comet Road or at Whanawhana depending on the trip option.
On the Water
The run starts as easy Class II over a quiet shingle bed. Once in the gorge the nature of the river and grade changes. From here the river flows south through Class II to III+ rapids it is a rocky bottom with boulders. The rapids begin to increase in difficulty with steep drops as the river turns east at the southern end of the Sparrowhawk range.
Farmland becomes visible and after about a kilometre before the Hot Springs Gorge is reached. This is a “must scout” gorge. The rapids are tight with large boulders in the Class III+ to IV range.
There are two named rapids; Waterfall Rapid at the entrance to the gorge (mislocated on Egarrs sketchmap) and the Slot. They are around the Class IV level at the recommended minimum flow. There are also about five Class IIIs through the Hot Springs gorge.
The moment the Gorge constricts expect the Slot rapid – it needs a good shore scout.
Aim to boof the ramp on river right at the end of the slot – don’t swim this one by messing up the approach!
About half way through the gorge is the Waterfall Rapid. This has got milder over the years and is now quite small. Don’t underestimate the hazards below it,
Greg Duley recommends taking the drop on true left then quickly moving to river right to avoid the flow that goes underneath some large boulders. There is a serious entrapment risk. In a pushy current this requires advanced paddling skills – this means most packrafters will need to portage the rapid.
It’s a pretty busy hours boating, with not a lot of downtime between rapids. The gorge can turn into something pretty nasty with a lot more water down it. You definitely want to get out and scout those rapids, as the right line is important and the consequences of a swim in the wrong place are severe.
The Waipiropiro Hot Springs are on Timahanga Station, so you need to get permission to visit them. They are up a steep 100m bluff above the last rapid in the gorge.
The gorge is less than 2 km long. Note Egarr called this the Top gorge. After the gorge the river eases to Class II, passes a farm bridge then, two kilometres below the gorge, the Ikawetea confluence.
The lower gorge then begins slowly with Class II and gradually picks up. About 5 km below the Ikawetea Stream confluence an orange marker on the left marks the tramping track to Shutes Hut. The hut is on the true right bank a steep 20 minute climb above the river.
The next 7 kilometres contain the crux of the lower gorge with the largest rapids starting a few km below the Comet – Shutes track and easing only about a kilometre above the Ngaruroro confluence. This section contains plenty of Class III rapids. Egarr records a number of bouldery class IV rapids and constrictions but this information may be dated.
From the confluence it is 20 odd km of easy Class I and II to the Whanwhana take out. Headwinds are common making this section a bit of a slog and it get’s progressively less interesting. It is described in the Lower Ngaruroro trip description. It’s also a much longer shuttle.
The best rapids in the lower gorge are downstream of the Comet Hut Track.
Land Tenure
From the Hot Springs Gorge there is a DOC marginal strip on the true left. Then below the Ikawetea confluence Kaweka forest park starts about a kilometre below the Ikawetea confluence on true right (and a kilometre above on true left).
The upper river is private land on both banks. Permission must be obtained to camp on Timahanga Station.
The Gauge
Taruarau River requires spring flows or is a rain run.
>5 cumecs good flows for advanced packrafters – above this flow, it’s generally coming off a flood, so this is probably the level you’d want to time your arrival for.
3 cumecs – probably as low as you’d want to attempt the trip – likely quite boney.