Lake Okareka Loop Track
If you’re looking for a short hike, with gorgeous views, located near Rotorua head out to Lake Okareka. To the lake it is about a 10 minute drive on Tarawera Road. The Lake Okareka Loop track is approximately 9 km in length and will take about 2-2.5 hours to complete. Previously you could only do a short walk from Acacia Road to Waitangi Stream or from Boyes Beach to the Doc Campground. But now you can walk the whole lake where you will be able to see a good portion of the lake throughout the walk. If you prefer to do a shorter walk see the link at the end of the blog.
Boyes Beach
Starting from Boyes Beach which has a playground and toilet facilities, the trail takes you along a boardwalk that skirts the edge of the lake.You will eventually come to the Lake Okareka Campsite, as you continue to the end of the campsite the trail takes you into native bush. The track narrows and can be a little disconcerting if you are not used to it. For an overview of the track Alltrails has a good outline.
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- Boyes Beach
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- Scenic Reserve Sign
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- Beach
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- Boyes Beach Playground
Waitangi Stream
From the campsite until the bridge that crosses the Waitangi Stream you will be walking through native bush. The track is undulating with a number of tree roots to contend with. Not far from the bridge is Silver Beach a nice sandy area with picnic tables and a toilet. From the campsite to the beach it is approximately 3.2 km.
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- Waitangi Stream
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- Near Waitangi Stream
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- Silver Beach Picnic Area
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- Silver Beach
Wetland
Continuing on from Silver Beach the track is relatively flat and gives a good view over farmland. Often you can see sheep and cattle on the farm. As you continue on the track it will take you over a wetland via a boardwalk. If you like bird watching there is a hide on the foreshore. To get back to Boyes Beach you will need to walk through Lake Okareka village. As you pass the Lake Okareka Reserve you might be fortunate to see one of the WWII amphibious landing craft as part of the Rotorua Duck Tours.
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- Birds
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- Wetlands
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- Farmland
Trees and Flowers
There are various types of trees and flowers around Lake Okareka. All pictured below (apart from the foxglove) are native to New Zealand.
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- Pohutukawa
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- Foxglove
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- Harakeke Flower
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- Koru
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- Manuka
Native Ferns
Video of the Lake Okareka Loop Track
Other things to note about Lake Okareka Loop Track
- No dogs are permitted
- Only some sections are wheelchair or pushchair friendly
- Other hikes in the area include Tarawera Falls,Lake Okareka short walk