Blue Lake Track — Attraction in North Island

I highly recommend the Blue Lake Track in Rotorua for its scenic and relatively easy 5.5 km loop around Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). The track suits a range of fitness levels and is popular for its beautiful native bush, clear blue waters, and peaceful beaches where swimming is allowed. The trail is mostly flat with gentle rises and some short steep sections, including stairs near the Green and Blue Lake lookout. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete at a comfortable pace, allowing time to rest and enjoy the views. The surface is compacted dirt with some roots and uneven spots. The route combines lakeside walking, forest trails, and a roadside section where caution is needed due to traffic. Walkers will enjoy stunning views of the crystal-clear Blue Lake and distant views of the Green Lake, with chances to spot native birds and relax on quiet beaches. The track is well-maintained and offers a refreshing outdoor experience close to Rotorua. Its natural beauty, family-friendly accessibility, and the enjoyable loop around a pristine lake make it an excellent choice for hikers seeking a scenic, easy to moderate walk with rewarding views and good facilities. It is especially suitable for families and casual walkers looking for a peaceful outdoor escape...

Beautiful trek of moderate effort but several caveats. Begin the trek at the Blue Lake Top 10 and proceed counterclockwise. To go otherwise is a gravel path next to the roadway then towards the lake edge where the trek becomes muddy, unimproved and uninteresting. Proceeding counterclockwise provides a wide and improved trail with several photo opportunities but do not allow a single one to pass by. You’ll be in the thick forest quickly with no views of water. The lake trek is close to 4 miles in total but take the trail turn for the Green Lake lookout or proceed to the Tarawera Rd carpark for your U-turn back along the same route to the holiday park. Proceeding onward is uninteresting...

We stayed at the nearby TOP 10 Holiday Park and hiked this trail to see glowworms; definitely worth it! We only did the near portions that lead to the glowworm sites, but all of the trail that we saw was clear and easy.

For the glowworms, we scouted the areas while it was still light out and would recommend doing the same. Headlamps with a night setting are definitely a must for getting there safely at night. We also had been to the Waitomo Caves before this which greatly helped us understand what we were looking for and where/how to look. If you're looking unguided and haven't seen glowworms before, definitely be patient/quiet and know that they are generally hanging...