Lovely short walk around Lake Okaro. Watch the fishermen fish for trout.

In recent years the Rotorua District Council and Environment Bay of Plenty have been working hard to reverse the damage of what was once a dead lake.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Rotorua, Central North Island, NZ
  • Distance: 2.3 km
  • Time needed: 1 hour
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: In parts
  • Route: Loop
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: Yes
  • Dogs: Yes
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Very quiet relaxing country outlook. Also a very popular trout fishing lake. Watching them fly fish for trout is great fun.

Track Quality

Grass track

Transport

No, you'll need to make your own way there.

Water

Yes

Driving Instructions

Drive south on Highway 30 out of Rotorua towards Taupo. Fenton St is the main road south out of Rotorua. You will know it from all the motels and hotels along is full length. You’ll drive past Rainbow Mountain. At 26km there is a turn off to the left on to Highway 38. Turn to the left, drive for 1.2 km then turn to the left onto Okaro Rd. Drive 800m to the Okaro car park. Driving home, keep driving down Okaro Rd. For 7.9 km then turn right, back on to the main Highway and back in to Rotorua

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

Click here to see lots of restaurants in Rotorua

Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Looking back to Rainbow Mountain

Lake Okaro – Start

Just before the turn-off to Highway 38 to Murupara and Lake Waikaremoana, unless it is raining, you will see Rainbow Mountain. Looking very close, you might see the transmitter and fire watcher hut sitting on the very top of Rainbow Mountain.

Lake Okaro
Lake Okaro
Lake Okaro

The walk

I was surprised to see how very clean the toilets were this far out in the country, yes it is strange to talk about toilets, but when you are on the road and need a pit stop, it’s good to see a clean fresh-smelling toilet.

A short boardwalk has been built around the wetland so you can stretch your legs and maybe spot a rare teal duck or an eel swimming under your feet, it wakes you up from that long exhausting drive very quickly.

If you are driving on to Rotorua, for a change of scenery, drive back along the Okaro Rd, you will pass the Waimanga Thermal Valley on the right-hand side of the road.  You will have to dig out a few $ from your pocket to gain entry. 

Don’t try your hand at trout fishing, without buying a fishing license. You can lose your fishing gear and car to the government without one.

See more of my walks in Rotorua