Last updated October 2026
Lake Rerewhakaaitu lies at the base of the southern slopes of Mount Tarawera, about 27 kilometres south-east of Rotorua in a straight line. It is a shallow, usually clear lake in farming country, 435 metres above sea level.
Guy Roe Reserve on Brett Road, at the lake’s Homestead Arm, has a playground, picnic tables, a jetty and a boat ramp, and RotoruaNZ notes that camping, picnicking, swimming and boating are all popular at the lake.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests the water at Homestead Arm every week over summer, and the site holds a Good LAWA long-term grade.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Oct–Mar by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Lake Rerewhakaaitu
Friday 6 NovemberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine E. coli results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (159 per 100 mL from 111 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Guy Roe Reserve, Brett Road, Homestead Arm of Lake Rerewhakaaitu
- Distance from Rotorua
- About 27 km south-east in a straight line
- Water
- Freshwater lake, no tides; relatively shallow
- Water quality
- Good (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to March by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, at Homestead Arm
- Dogs
- Allowed under control at Guy Roe Reserve (not in the barbecue area); not allowed at the DOC campsites
- Facilities nearby
- Composting toilets, tap water (boil first), playground, barbecues, picnic tables, jetty and boat ramp at Guy Roe Reserve; council freedom camping at Guy Roe Reserve; DOC campsites at Brett Road and Ash Pit Road
- Mobile coverage
- Intermittent
About Lake Rerewhakaaitu
Lake Rerewhakaaitu covers about 530 hectares. It is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 7 metres and a deepest point of 15 metres, and it is young for a Rotorua lake, having formed about 700 years ago.
The lake has no regular surface outlet: it is linked by groundwater to Lake Rotomahana, and when the lake is high it overflows into the Mangaharakeke Stream and on to the Rangitaiki River.
The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme gives the meaning of the name as “lake of wandering spirits”. The land around the lake is rich in volcanic soils left by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, and it was the last of the developed farming areas of the Rotorua district.
In 2009 the regional council agreed to support the local farmers in writing their own catchment plan to protect the lake, in place of a formal action plan.
The lake is also a significant wildlife site. It supports breeding populations of dabchicks and scaup, and the largest breeding population of banded dotterel in the Rotorua district, so binoculars are worth bringing.
Guy Roe Reserve is the first recreational area along Brett Road. It is a popular spot for picnics, fishing and boating. The Rerewhakaaitu Domain on Ash Pit Road is a popular base for water skiing.
Swimming and Water Quality at Lake Rerewhakaaitu
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples the lake at Homestead Arm every week from October to March and sends the results to LAWA. The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 111 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Of 135 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming. A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable for swimming, but it is a long-term record, not a guarantee for any given day.
Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain, when runoff from the surrounding farmland can carry bacteria into the lake.
Like other lakes in the district, Lake Rerewhakaaitu can have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms in warm, settled weather. The algae can produce toxins that harm people and can kill dogs, so check LAWA for algae alerts before you go, and keep children and dogs out of water that looks green, cloudy or scummy.
The reserve is also used for launching boats, and water skiing is popular on the lake, so swim away from the boat ramp and jetty and keep a close eye on children.
Camping and Facilities
Guy Roe Reserve has a children’s playground, barbecues, picnic tables, composting toilets, tap water, a jetty and a boat ramp. Boil the tap water for three minutes before drinking it. Fires and fireworks are not permitted. Dogs are allowed if kept under control, but not in the barbecue area.
Camping at Guy Roe Reserve
Rotorua Lakes Council runs a paid freedom camping site at the reserve. The council lists it for tents and for both self-contained and non-self-contained campervans and motorhomes, for up to two consecutive nights per calendar month.
Spaces can’t be reserved: it’s first come, first served, and you pay the nightly fee ($10 per adult, $5 per child, under 5s free) online with your vehicle registration and the site name, or through Penny.
Freedom camping rules have changed recently, so check the council’s freedom camping page before you go. The council names its free dump station at the wastewater treatment plant on Te Ngae Road, open 24 hours, as the nearest to the reserve.
DOC Campsites at Brett Road and Ash Pit Road
The Department of Conservation runs two campsites by the lake. Brett Road Campsite, further along Brett Road from Guy Roe Reserve, has 25 non-powered sites, a cooking shelter, non-flush toilets and a boat ramp, with good swimming, walking and fishing along the shore.
Ash Pit Road Campsite, at the northern end of the lake, has the same facilities with 51 non-powered sites: follow Brett Road to its end and turn right into Ash Pit Road. DOC warns that some trees at Ash Pit Road may drop branches; they are signposted, so don’t camp under them.
DOC says the lake is the only water source at its campsites and the lake water may not be drinkable, so take your own water, or boil or filter lake water. Dogs and open fires are not allowed at the DOC campsites.
Both DOC campsites must be booked online in advance, and DOC keeps no spaces for walk-ins. Fees are $15 per adult and $7.50 per child (5 to 17) a night, and infants stay free. You can stay up to seven nights, each booking covers up to two vehicles including boats, and group bookings are limited to six people.
The DOC Campsite Pass is accepted if you book online first. Motorbikes and dirt bikes aren’t allowed, music must be off by 10pm, and there is no access from the campsites up Crater Road or Mount Tarawera, which are private land.
Mobile phone coverage around the lake is intermittent.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Bay of Plenty Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result, algae alerts and the long-term grade for Lake Rerewhakaaitu at Homestead Arm.
RotoruaNZ: visitor guide to Guy Roe Reserve and the DOC campsites at Lake Rerewhakaaitu.
Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme: health warnings, lake closures and biosecurity rules for the Rotorua lakes.
Rotorua Lakes Council: Freedom camping: Guy Roe Reserve fees and payment, the council’s map and dump stations.
Department of Conservation: Rerewhakaaitu, Brett Road Campsite: campsite information, alerts and bookings. Campsite information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Rerewhakaaitu, Ash Pit Road Campsite: campsite information, alerts and bookings. Campsite information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Lake Rerewhakaaitu?
Yes. RotoruaNZ lists swimming as a popular activity at the lake and at the Brett Road Campsite, and the regional council tests the water at Homestead Arm weekly over summer. Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim.
What is the water quality like at Lake Rerewhakaaitu?
The Homestead Arm testing site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 135 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming.
How deep is Lake Rerewhakaaitu?
The lake is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 7 metres and a deepest point of 15 metres.
Can you camp at Lake Rerewhakaaitu?
Yes. Rotorua Lakes Council has a paid freedom camping site at Guy Roe Reserve, and DOC runs bookable non-powered campsites by the lake at Brett Road and Ash Pit Road.
Are dogs allowed at Lake Rerewhakaaitu?
Dogs are allowed at Guy Roe Reserve if kept under control, but not in the barbecue area, and they are not allowed at the DOC campsites. Check LAWA for algae alerts first, as blue-green algae is dangerous to dogs.
What does Rerewhakaaitu mean?
The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme gives the meaning as “lake of wandering spirits”.
What birds can you see at Lake Rerewhakaaitu?
The lake has breeding populations of dabchicks and scaup and the largest breeding population of banded dotterel in the Rotorua district.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Water quality track record: Water quality: © LAWA and partner organisations (Bay of Plenty Regional Council), licensed under CC BY 4.0, results to March 2025.