New Zealand Walk: The Tarawera Trail around a lake of natural beauty
Lake Tarawera is a lake of natural beauty and lays in a stunning setting, south east of Rotorua, and is not as well known as Rotorua and Rotoiti the two lakes around it.
It is quite a mystic lake, how it nestles in between a typical New Zealand “jungle” full with native trees and ferns.
The lake was home to a few maori villages, before the Tarawera volcano erupted in 1886. The maori legend says that a phantom canoe appeared on the lake a few days prior the eruption, as a potent of death.
Overall a very interesting area – the volcano with it’s amazing, tranquil lake at its foot. Definitely worth a walk to the Hot Water Beach, which you can reach within a few hours of walking alongside the lake.
The track begins at the Te Waiora car park, just behind the Blue and Green Lake. There you can find a spacious car park with toilets and a track information kiosk from where you can plan your trip.
We left our place in Tauranga on a sunny Saturday morning to hike the Tarawera Trail, in fantastic weather and with huge motivation.
After buying lunch we started the track with it’s wonderful landscape and stunning views. Looking at the lake was just stunning, peaceful and quiet.
The hike isn’t challenging. It’s a nice walk with a wonderful experience. The rivers are clear and home of the rainbow trout, that are spurning in the river around June/July. They are huge, fat
and look so yum!
But we are not allowed to catch them in the spurning season where huge fines will be given, if you do so!
The water of the river is freezing cold and crystal clear. The walk now goes through bushes, along the lake, with little beaches and some steps.
After 11km we find a little hot pool, where we relax for a while before we finish the last 4km (mostly uphill) to Hot Water Beach, that is definitely worth the effort. Here it is peaceful and nice, not as crowded of course as the famous brother in Haihei.
Here is a camp ground where you can stay the night and enjoy the hot water pool in the evening.
The campsite is very basic. It has no fresh running water, fires are not allowed and neither are dogs, but still it is a great spot to spend the night and relax after a five to six hour walk into the bush.
It is possible to get a water taxi back to the car park, that you can take the same day, or on the next day, depending if you like to spend the night under Opposite page above: Mt Tarawera with Lake Tarawera in the foreground. Below: Peacefull Lake Tarawera. Above left: The lake through the palms. Above right: The information kiosk.. Below left: Walking through a section of manuka. the stars or not.
The ride cost $25, definitely worth it to look at the stunning scenery from the water. But it is also a challenge to walk the track back to the car, so you definitely deserve a cold beer afterwards in the Rotorua town centre!