The Blue Lake is a very easy 1 hour and 30min walk right around the lake.
It’s one of the closest lakes to Rotorua. It’s clear blue waters are popular with water skiers, swimmers and boaties. An easy walking track circles the Blue Lake taking in beautiful beaches, native bush and the exotic conifers of Whakarewarewa Forest. There are good views over the Blue Lake and the nearby Green Lake; Rotokakahi. You might find it easier to do this walk clockwise.
After your walk around the Blue Lake, you should go take a lovely relaxing soak in the hot pools in Rotorua.
Quick Facts about this walk
- Location: North Island NZ
- Distance: 4.50 kms
- Time needed: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Wheelchair Access: No
- Route: Round Trip
- Elevation: 415m
- Wet Feet: No
- Toilets: Yes
- Dogs: Leash only
- Mobile Coverage: Yes
- Last Updated: November, 2019
We’ve partnered with Macpac outdoor walking & hiking gear to bring you the very best products designed exclusively for our New Zealand climate. They’ll ship for FREE within NZ on orders over $100 (if under $100 it’s only $5). Worldwide international shipping is available except to the USA. Bulky orders will be $20.
Summary points about this walk
Points of interest along the walk
Point 1: Start of Blue Lake Walk
There is plenty of parking spaces along the Blue Lake water front. From the car park walk out on to the lake front then turn to your right. Follow the lake front for 100m to where the bush comes down to the waters edge. You should see the wooden barrier and the track sigh. From here you should have no trouble following the Blue Lake track. There might be a couple of small mud holes to jump over at the beginning of the walk. It is a pity the trees were not trimmed back so you can see more of the lake. Around 30 minutes in to the walk, there is a short downhill track on the left. This track will take you down to a small sandy beach. Just the right place to stop for lunch or just to get your bearings. At the junction just follow the track that runs slightly to the left. From here on you are walking on an old forestry road. Follow this road up to a car park.
Point 2: Back to the car
Now you have two options. Option one is to walk up to the busy Tarawera Road turn left and walk the 2.7Mt back to the car. Option two is the better one. Take the track on your left, this will take you down to the lake. It is a steep descent down through the pine trees. When you walk out onto the lake, turn to the right and walk along the lake edge. The track starts in the bush 50 Mt in front of you. Back in the bush again, this section is a little rocky in place so don’t go kick your toes on the big ones. You only have 700Mt to go before walking out onto the Tarawera Road. Now turn to the left and follow the road back to the car. This road is quite narrow so watch out for the cars.
What sort of walking and hiking gear will you need
We’ve partnered with Macpac outdoor walking & hiking gear to bring you the very best products designed exclusively for our New Zealand climate. They’ll ship for FREE within NZ on orders over $100 (if under $100 it’s only $5). Worldwide international shipping is available except to the USA. Bulky orders will be $20.