Last updated October 2026
Lake Rotoehu is a shallow lake about 29 kilometres north-east of Rotorua, reached from State Highway 30 in around 25 minutes by car. It is the smallest of a chain of three lakes north-east of Lake Rotorua, with farmland and forest around its shores.
Swimmers use two access points: Otautu Bay, where LAWA describes the area as used for swimming, fishing and boating, and Kennedy Bay, a boating spot with a jetty and boat ramp.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests both bays every week over summer. Otautu Bay holds an Excellent LAWA long-term grade and Kennedy Bay a Fair grade, and the lake has frequent toxic algae alerts, so check LAWA before you go.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Nov–May by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Lake Rotoehu
Monday 26 OctoberWater quality track record
Excellent at 1 testing spot, Fair at 1 (2020 to 2025)ShowHide
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 (Kennedy Bay: 263 per 100 mL from 109 tests; Otautu Bay Boat Ramp: 100 per 100 mL from 62 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Otautu Bay and Kennedy Bay, Lake Rotoehu, off State Highway 30 between Rotorua and Whakatāne
- Distance from Rotorua
- About 29 km north-east in a straight line, around 25 minutes by car
- Water
- Freshwater lake, no tides
- Water quality
- Otautu Bay: Excellent. Kennedy Bay: Fair (LAWA long-term grades, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Toxic algae
- Frequent alerts: check LAWA before swimming, and keep dogs out of the water during an alert
- Testing
- Weekly from November to May by Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- Facilities nearby
- Small public boat ramp at Otautu Bay; jetty and boat ramp at Kennedy Bay
About Lake Rotoehu
Lake Rotoehu covers about 800 hectares. It is shallow for a Rotorua lake, with an average depth of about 8 metres and a deepest point of around 13.5 metres. Its southern end lies within the Ōkataina caldera. It has no surface outlet: water drains out through a sinkhole in its northern arm, while two streams enter along the southern shore, one of them geothermal.
RotoruaNZ, the city’s tourism organisation, gives the meaning of Rotoehu as “turbid” or discoloured waters. In former times the lake was heavily populated, with many pā sites around its shores, and the lake is said to hide an island beneath its surface.
Water quality in the lake was fairly stable until 1993, when the lake level dropped and nutrient and algae levels rose sharply. Since then the lake has been part of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme, a joint effort by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust.
Work has included changes in land use on surrounding farms, yearly harvesting of the invasive hornwort weed since 2008, and alum dosing of a geothermal inflow.
Otautu Bay was chosen for a trial of weed removal and a floating wetland because it is shallow, accessible and enclosed; LAWA notes that the trial reduced algae blooms in the bay and that the wetland has added habitat for fish and birds.
Most visitors come to fish or launch a small boat. The lake holds only rainbow trout, and the northern and western arms give shelter to small craft and good fishing from both shore and boat. On a calm summer day the two bays are also quiet places for a swim, a paddle or a picnic by the water.
Swimming and Water Quality at Lake Rotoehu
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples both bays every week from November to May and sends the results to LAWA. The two sites have quite different records.
Otautu Bay
Otautu Bay, at the boat ramp, has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade, based on 62 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25. All 62 tests between November 2022 and March 2025 were suitable for swimming. An Excellent grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable for swimming.
Kennedy Bay
Kennedy Bay has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 109 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 112 tests between November 2020 and March 2025, 96% were suitable for swimming. A Fair grade means the water is usually fine, but it is best avoided after rain.
Toxic algae
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms occur regularly on Lake Rotoehu. Each bay was checked for algae 161 times between the summers of 2019/20 and 2024/25. At Otautu Bay 51 checks reached alert level and 48 reached action level, and at Kennedy Bay 56 reached alert level and 51 action level. Action level means people should stay out of the water.
Algae can produce toxins that cause skin rashes and stomach upsets, and they are especially dangerous for dogs, which can die after swimming in or drinking affected water. Check LAWA for current algae alerts and obey any warning signs. If the water looks green, cloudy or scummy, stay out and keep dogs out.
Before you swim
The grades are a long-term record, not a guarantee for any given day. Check the latest result and algae status 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 raise bacteria levels. Both access points are also used to launch boats, so swim away from the ramps and keep a close eye on children. Large beds of hornwort weed grow in the lake.
Getting There
Lake Rotoehu lies beside State Highway 30, the road from Rotorua to Whakatāne, about 25 minutes’ drive from Rotorua past Lake Rotoiti. For Kennedy Bay, turn onto Manawahe Road and then travel 1.5 kilometres along Pongakawa Valley Road, where the bay is on the left.
Otautu Bay is the lake’s other public access point, with a small public boat ramp. RotoruaNZ notes that there are no concrete ramps on the lake and that launching depends on the lake level.
Lake Rotomā, the next lake east along State Highway 30, makes an easy second stop.
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 Rotoehu at Otautu Bay.
LAWA and Bay of Plenty Regional Council: results, algae alerts and the long-term grade for Lake Rotoehu at Kennedy Bay.
RotoruaNZ: visitor guide to Lake Rotoehu, with access, boat launching and trout fishing information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Lake Rotoehu?
Yes. LAWA describes Otautu Bay as used for swimming, fishing and boating, and the regional council tests Otautu Bay and Kennedy Bay weekly over summer. Check LAWA for the latest result and any algae alert before you swim.
What is the water quality like at Lake Rotoehu?
Otautu Bay has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade, with all 62 tests from November 2022 to March 2025 suitable for swimming. Kennedy Bay has a Fair grade, with 96% of 112 tests from November 2020 to March 2025 suitable.
Does Lake Rotoehu get toxic algae?
Yes, often. Blue-green algae blooms occur regularly, and dozens of the algae checks at each bay over recent summers reached alert or action level. Check LAWA and stay out of the water during an alert.
What should dog owners know about Lake Rotoehu?
Toxic algae can kill dogs. Check LAWA for algae alerts before you go, and keep dogs out of the water if there is an alert or the water looks green or scummy.
When is the water at Lake Rotoehu tested?
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples both bays weekly from November to May, and results are published on LAWA.
How far is Lake Rotoehu from Rotorua?
About 29 kilometres north-east in a straight line, or around 25 minutes by car along State Highway 30 towards Whakatāne.
What does Rotoehu mean?
RotoruaNZ gives the meaning as “turbid” or discoloured waters.
Can you fish at Lake Rotoehu?
Yes. The lake holds only rainbow trout, and RotoruaNZ says a boat is nearly essential for successful fishing.
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