The best of
Rotorua. Ranked.

The clear-water bush lakes are the swimming lakes — Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Ōkāreka have easy road access, sandy edges and marked swimming areas. Lake Rotorua itself is the biggest but is not the one locals swim in. Always check current water-quality notices before swimming, as they do change through summer.

Yes. A Fish & Game licence is legally required to fish for trout anywhere in New Zealand, including the Rotorua lakes, and the Rotorua lakes sit in the Eastern region with their own regulations, seasons and daily limits that vary by lake. Licences are sold online and at local tackle shops. Trout cannot legally be bought or sold in New Zealand — the only way to eat one is to catch it.

Lake Tarawera for scale and scenery — it sits under the mountain that erupted in 1886 and has a hot-water beach reachable by boat or by walking the lakeside trail. Lake Rotoiti is the other one, with hot springs on the shoreline that are accessible only by water.

Yes, and guided evening kayak trips to shoreline hot pools are one of the more distinctive things to do here. Several lakes have public boat ramps and hire operators. Conditions on the larger lakes change quickly with wind, so check the forecast and go with an operator if you are unsure.