Lake Tikitapu

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Lake Tikitapu

Lake Tikitapu holds a special place in the community’s heart, and is enjoyed year-round by locals and tourists for swimming, boating, water-skiing, jet-skiing, biking and fishing.

The small, circular lake is famous for its striking blue colour, a result of rhyolite and pumice on the lake bed. With a large reserve area boasting playground and barbeque facilities, toilets, parking, water slides and easy walking tracks, it’s easy to see why the ‘Blue Lake’ is one of Rotorua’s most popular natural destinations.

Framed by stunning native bush and sitting adjacent to the Green Lake (Lake Rotokakahi), Lake Tikitapu is great for trout fishing and is also a popular spot for triathlons and other sporting events.

Like Rotorua’s other lakes, Lake Tikitapu is steeped in Māori history. It’s believed the daughter of a high-born chief was bathing in the lake’s crystal waters and wore the tikitapu (sacred greenstone neck ornament). The piece dislodged itself while she swam, and the blue waters of the lake are believed to still be hiding the tikitapu.

The quality of Lake Tikitapu’s water is important to this community, as it contributes to a collective sense of pride, place, mana and culture. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust are working together to ensure strategic direction and coordinated planning for Lake Tikitapu and its future.

Current Lakes Closures / Events

2023 1-3 Dec-Tikitapu 1-Canoe Sprint Regatta-CRNZ

Friday 01 - Sunday 03 December 2023

Event / Who  
Tikitapu 1 Sprint Regatta, Canoe Racing NZ

Lake Closure    
Friday 0700 hrs - Sunday 1900 hrs 

Area Closed / Open
Map showing closed areas and open areas during event (JPG, 200kb)

Event Timeframe
Friday     
Set Up Day
    0700-1800 hrs

Saturday     
Event Day 1   0800-1700 hrs

Sunday   
Event Day 2    0800-1700 hrs
Pack Down    1500-1900 hrs

CONFIRMED  BOOKING

2023 15-16 Dec-Half Marathon-Brand New Day Ltd

Fri 15- Sat 16 December 2023

Event / Who  
Half Ironman, Brand New Day Ltd

Lake Closure    
Saturday 16 Dec  0515-0700 hours

Area Closed / Open
Course map showing the closed area  TO COME

Event Timeframe
Friday 15 Dec     
Set Up Day
    1500-1700 hours

Saturday 16 Dec     
Event Day   0515-0700 hours
Pack Down    0700-0715 hours

PROVISIONAL  BOOKING

2024 9-11 Feb-Tikitapu 2-Canoe Sprint Regatta-CRNZ

NOTE:  This event is for 2024

Friday 9-11 February 2024

Event / Who  
Tikitapu 2 Sprint Regatta, Canoe Racing NZ

Lake Closure    
Friday 0700 hrs - Sunday 1900 hrs 

Area Closed / Open
CLOSED-     Main body of lake closed
OPEN    -     The passive areas remaining open shown in the map TBC


Event Timeframe
Friday     
Set Up Day
    0700-1800 hrs

Saturday     
Event Day 1   0800-1700 hrs

Sunday   
Event Day 2    0800-1700 hrs
Pack Down    1500-1900 hrs

PROVISIONAL  BOOKING

2024 15-16 March - Legend of the Lake Swim

NOTE: This event is for 2024

Friday 16 - Saturday 17 March 2024

Who/Event

Ocean Swim Series - Legend of the Lake Swim

Details

TBC

PROVISIONAL BOOKING

2024 5-6 April - XTERRA First Tier Production

NOTE:  This event is for 2024

Fri 05 - Sat 06 April 2024

Event/Who:

XTERRA (off road Triathlon) - First Tier Sports Production  

Time / Closure Details

TBC

Lake Closure Area and any Open Areas

TBC
 

PROVISIONAL BOOKING

 

 

There are no health warnings.
Recent Monitoring Results
Click here to view full test analysis
There are currently no health warnings for Tikitapu
Water Quality
Recent Blue Green Algae
Monitoring Results
Click here to view latest test results