Tarara: Nature and Local History

Discover Tarara from two perspectives: the history of local families and past community activities, and the natural surroundings of the nearby Purakaunui Falls. This combination offers a thematic starting point for planning your trip—whether you are more interested in local history or an outing to see a waterfall, forest and hear birdsong.

A waterfall, forest and a short walk

The Purakaunui Falls cascade over three tiers against a backdrop of native forest. Birdsong and the sound of rushing water can be heard at the falls. The tiers, forest and natural sounds offer different ways to experience a visit: you can take in the waterfall’s stepped form or focus on the surroundings and their sounds.

The Purakaunui Falls Walk leads to the falls. The walk from the car park to the waterfalls and back takes 20 minutes. This gives you a clear timeframe for the walk. The falls are accessible via Purakaunui Falls Road; the turn-off is 6.3 kilometres south of Owaka.

A historical cultural connection adds to the landscape: the Purakaunui Falls featured on a New Zealand 10-cent stamp in 1976. Alongside forest and water, the stamp connects the waterfall with New Zealand’s cultural history.

Family history and past sporting traditions

The Burgess family lived continuously at Greenwood Farm in Tarara for more than a century; four generations of the family were based there. The timespan and number of generations bring two aspects of this history into focus: the long period of settlement and its continuation across several generations.

At its peak, the former Tarara School had up to 29 pupils. The school’s history adds another perspective on past life in the area to the family history. A tour that visited Tarara in 2017 also stopped at the former site of Tarara School.

The Tarara Sports Ground hosted woodchopping competitions and athletics events. Until 1933, woodchopping was a spectator sport at sports days on the front paddock of Greenwood Farm. This shows the sporting tradition in two different forms: as a competition at the Sports Ground and as a spectator sport at the farm’s sports days.

Which holiday accommodation suits your travel plans?

If you would like to combine both interests, check whether the location and availability of specific options suit your plans.

Clutha District: a multi-day trail

In the wider destination of Clutha District, the Clutha Gold Trail offers a different scale for active days: it is 135 kilometres long, graded as an easy Grade 1–2 trail, and designed to take two to four days. That is a considerably longer timeframe than the 20-minute return walk to the Purakaunui Falls. Check the latest trail information before planning.

Discover more destinations: Chaslands, Milton, Kaitangata, Owaka, Tapanui, Lawrence, Clinton, Balclutha.

Back to the wider travel overview: Clutha District.