Blue Lake Track

One of the closest lakes to Rotorua, this is a popular spot for walking, swimming and water sports.

Where is it?

Start at the Blue Lake car park at the Lake Tikitapu Scenic Reserve, where you’ll find bathrooms, a playground and barbecues.

Terrain

Easy bush paths, a few ups and downs, it can be muddy in winter.

Handy to know

There’s a shop, a playground and toilets at the Top 10 Holiday Park.

Track Overview

The native bush is filled with birds and the beaches are perfect for picnics. This is a walk that offers beautiful views and fabulously fresh air and the loop that circumnavigates the lake is perfect for warming up before taking a dip in the cool, clear water. The signage from the car park is excellent; most people set off to the right. Featuring ample quantities of quintessential Kiwi bush and stands of towering trees, this charming trek is popular with locals and out-of-towners, thanks to the quiet sandy beaches and pretty views of the Blue Lake and Green Lake (Rotokakahi). The track features a few stairs, some rocky surfaces and boggy patches after rain; the final leg takes you along the roadside so take special care because the road is narrow. Of course you can go the other way round, in a clockwise direction, thus doing the road section first.

A good walk warrants a reward. Feed your stomach at Rotorua’s Eat Streat, a strip of international dining venues, complete with retractable roof and heated flooring, or soak your muscles in mineral water. ‘Secret Spot’ features private cedar hot tubs hidden in the Whakarewarewa Forest.

Need to Know

DOGS ON A LEASH

TIME & DISTANCE: 90min return; 5.5km

FITNESS: Basic fitness required

TERRAIN: Easy bush paths, few ups and downs

Walking in Rotorua

Walking in The Redwoods, Rotorua © Destination Rotorua

The Rotorua Walkway links 26km of connected pathways through some seriously scenic areas. It can also be divided into eight shorter segments, with some sections considered more picturesque than others.

Walk across a series of eco-suspended bridges above the forest floor as part of Rotorua’s Redwoods Treewalk. Snaking between 75m-tall redwood trees and sprinkled with enormous wooden lanterns, come nightfall, the forest lights up to magical effect.

Looking for a place to stay? Find a huge range of accommodation options, including discounts for AA Members, at travel.aa.co.nz/Hotels

Main Image: Blue Lake © Adrian Hodge