Kawerau welcomes those who enjoy a small community lifestyle. Once maligned for industrial and social problems, Kawerau is now a lifestyle enclave for retirees and motorvanners, situated on the pristine Tarawera River. The town is only a short 25 minute drive from the coast.
Motorhome facilities
A motorhome friendly town in the heart of the Bay of Plenty, Kawerau’s small town lifestyle offers facilities such as a laundromat, supermarkets, chemist, dump station, free camping and free ‘natural spring’ drinking water. There is also the free swimming pool, all heated geothermally, and with temperature raised in winter to a very comfortable 38 degrees.
The Kawerau District Council provides some facilities for self-contained campervans at Prideaux Park near the centre of town. Click here to download the Campervan Policy covering the use of this site.
Download the Kawerau camping map.
For further information, contact the Kawerau District Council on (07) 306 9009.
Drive times
Whakatane – 30 minutes Rotorua – 45 minutes Tauranga – 1 1/4 hours Hamilton – 2 1/4 hours Taupo – 1 3/4 hours Napier – 3 1/2 hours Gisborne – 3 hours Auckland – 3 1/2 hours Beaches – 25 minutes Lakes – 15 minutes
Forest – 5 minutes
Airports
Whakatane – 35 minutes (domestic)
Rotorua – 45 minutes (domestic / International)
Whakatane Air Services
Air Chathams
For further information on their timetable and fares please click here.
Transport and connections
Well connected, two bus operators run regularly between Gisborne and Auckland, via Kawerau.
National bus timetable
The Naked Bus service operates between Auckland and Gisborne on a daily basis:
Departing Kawerau for Auckland at 10.25 am
Departing Kawerau for Gisborne at 1.30 pm
For a full Naked Bus timetable, and bookings please click here.
Intercity Coaches operates on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday:
Gisborne to Auckland 6222 – morning coach-stop at Plunket Street, Kawerau
Auckland to Gisborne 6211 – afternoon coach-stop at Plunket Street, Kawerau
For a full Intercity timetable, and bookings please click here.
Kawerau to Tauranga via Whakatane bus timetable
For more information on the Bayhopper fares click here.
Airport shuttle and charter services
Although Kawerau may not have an airport, it is very close to 3 national airports; Whakatane, Tauranga and Rotorua International Airport. Airport shuttles are available to pick you up and drop you off at any of these. Alternatively, you can contact the Kawerau Information Centre for more details or phone 07 323 6300.
Terry Tours offer transfers to/from Kawerau and to/from all airports and cruise ship ports. Rotorua and Tauranga Airports are approximately one hour drive from Kawerau. Hamilton Airport is approximately two and a half hours drive, and Auckland International Airport is approximately three and a half hours drive.
Terry’s door to door shuttle service can be booked in advance to suit your flight times, and they can accommodate oversized luggage and bikes in the large luggage area. For flight arrivals your uniformed driver will be waiting for you with your name indicated on a sign for easy identification. Upon booking Terrys will reconfirm your departure or arrival time 24 hours in advance, and will supply you with contact details in case of delays.
For further questions or to book, click here.