Last updated October 2026
Lake Tikitapu, also called the Blue Lake, is a clear, deep crater lake on Tarawera Road, a short drive from Rotorua. It is stocked with rainbow trout, and it is the only Rotorua district lake stocked with brook trout.
Anglers fish from the beaches and the track above the shore, or from a boat, though the lake is shared with swimmers, paddlers and water-skiers. It is open all year to fly and spin fishing.
Lake Tikitapu at a Glance
- Location
- Tarawera Road, between the Blue Lake and Green Lake, Rotorua district
- Water
- Fresh: Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake)
- Main species
- Rainbow trout (stocked); brook trout in smaller numbers
- Season
- Open all year
- Methods
- Fly and spin only; no bait
- Best time
- Dawn and dusk, or evenings and overcast days when the lake is quieter
- Access
- Blue Lake reserve beach and boat ramp; the 5.5 km Blue Lake Track runs around the shore
- Facilities
- Public toilets, picnic tables, playground and electric barbecues in the reserve
- Rules
- Fish & Game Eastern; licence required
- Cost
- Fish & Game licence
No tides. The lake has no outlet to gauge, so check for algae health warnings and aquatic event closures before you go; dawn, dusk and overcast days fish best.
Setting and Background
Lake Tikitapu sits in a forested crater beside Tarawera Road. The water is very clear and gets its blue colour from rhyolite and pumice on the lake bed. The lake has no stream flowing in and no surface outlet, so there is no natural trout spawning and the fishery depends on stocking.
Rainbow trout are the main catch, mostly small to medium fish. Brook trout are present in smaller numbers, and Tikitapu is said to be the only lake in the Rotorua district stocked with them.
The name means a sacred greenstone ornament. A local story says a chief’s high-born daughter lost her pendant while bathing and it is thought to be still in the lake. Next door, Lake Rotokākahi (Green Lake) is sacred and closed to swimming, fishing and boating, so make sure you are on the Blue Lake side of the carpark.
How to Fish Lake Tikitapu
From the shore
Shoreline fishing is reasonable around the main beach, and the path above the lake lets you spot fish cruising the margins before you cast. Fly or spin from the shore. The water is clear, so a quiet approach and a light leader help.
From a boat
Jigging and harling are popular by day, and trolling a lead core or LED line also suits the deep water. Harling with a slow or medium sink line and a leader of about 5 metres is a common set-up. Remember the lake is shared with skiers, swimmers and canoeists, and parts of it are closed for aquatic events at times.
What to use
- Flies by day: green caddis, pheasant tail, and hare and copper in sizes 14 to 16 fished just over the drop-off, or a Grey Ghost or Parson’s Glory.
- Terrestrials: in summer, cicada, beetle, bumblebee and wasp patterns work when insects are blown onto the lake.
- Evening and night flies: Scotch Poacher, Hairy Dog and Fuzzy Wuzzy.
- Lures: a bright silver or gold Toby by day, and a black Toby or a Rapala in the evening or on overcast days.
- Lines: a 4 to 6 weight floating line with an indicator for nymphing, or a 6 to 7 weight medium to fast sink line for wet flies.
Getting There and Facilities
- Getting there: take Tarawera Road from Rotorua. The reserve carpark sits between the Blue Lake and Green Lake, near a lookout. There is no overnight parking or camping.
- Facilities: public toilets, a ski lane and boat ramp, a playground, electric barbecues and picnic tables. Check the signs at the ramp for water-ski times.
- Walking: the Blue Lake Track is 5.5 km around the lake, with sandy beaches at each end.
- Dogs: DOC says dogs are not permitted in the scenic reserve. Check the signs on the day.
- Staying nearby: the Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park is across the road.
Rules and Safety
- Fish & Game Eastern regulations apply, and you need a current licence. Lake Tikitapu is fly and spin water with no bait, and set rods may only be used from a boat. Check the current Eastern brochure for night-fishing hours, gear limits, bag and size limits.
- Boat users must make sure craft are clean of pest fish and plants. If a boat has been used in the Waikato River in the past 30 days, it must go through a wash station for Te Arawa lakes. Moving gold clam is an offence.
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council monitors blue-green algae. Check for health warnings before you fish, and keep dogs out of the water if an alert is on.
- Keep clear of swimmers and watch for ski boats and kayaks, especially on summer weekends. Check the Rotorua lakes aquatic events calendar for closures.
- Lake Rotokākahi (Green Lake) is sacred and closed to fishing. Do not fish there.
Further Reading
Fish & Game Eastern regulations 2026/27: methods, hours, closed waters and limits for the Rotorua lakes.
Rotorua Lakes Council: Blue Lake (Tikitapu): reserve facilities, boat ramp and the sacred Green Lake next door.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council: Lake Tikitapu: lake facts, water quality and algae updates.
Common Questions
What fish are in Lake Tikitapu?
Stocked rainbow trout, mostly small to medium, and a smaller number of brook trout.
Is Lake Tikitapu open all year?
Yes, under the Fish & Game Eastern regulations. Check the current brochure for hours and methods.
Can I use bait?
No. The lake is fly and spin only.
Where can I fish from the shore?
Around the main beach, and along the margins that you can see from the track above the lake.
Do I need a licence?
Yes. You need a current Fish & Game licence, which you can buy online or from a licence agent listed on the Fish & Game Eastern website.
Can I fish Lake Rotokākahi next door?
No. Green Lake is sacred and closed to fishing, swimming and boating.
Is the lake busy?
It is shared with swimmers, paddlers and water-skiers, so early mornings and evenings are usually quieter.
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