GAY Guysers-Gazette-issue14.pdf

A great way to see the Blue Lake and get
on the water is on the Rotorua Duck Tour.
www.rotoruaducktours.co.nz
Lake Tkitapu - Blue Lake
Lake Tikitapu or Blue Lake, is the smallest of
the four lakes lying between Lake Rotorua and
Lake Tarawera.
Along with the others, Lake Tikitapu lies
within a volcanic caldera formed within the
last 300,000 years. The blue colour of the lake
can be attributed to rhyolite and pumice on
the lake bed. The lake has no visible outlet;
however, subsurface flow drains towards the
Green Lake and onto Lake Tarawera.
In summer, the lake is used for recreational
purposes, with many sports events being held
such as water skiing and triathlons. Like many
of the lakes in the Rotorua district, it is also
used for trout fishing. The Blue Lake is one of
the lakes visited by the amphibious vehicle
Duck Tours from Rotorua. q
Blue Lake Quick Facts:
Named as the place where the daughter of
a high born chief lost her sacred greenstone
neck ornament (Tikitapu)
150 hectares in size, deepest point 28 metres
No surface outlet, probably drains via
underground to Lake Rotokakahi opposite
Formed approximately 13,500 years ago
Turquoise blue from above due to reflection
from white rhyolite and pumice bottom
You can walk right around the Blue Lake
which is about 5km (takes about 1.25 hours)
The blue lake caters for swimming, boating,
water skiing, walking, biking and fishing
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Guysers Gazette 19