Lake Tikitapu

Lake Tikitapu or Blue Lake, is the smallest of four small lakes lying between Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island.

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.

I drove around the lake and found a 'lookout' sign. Walking through forest the path led to a small but absolutely charming bay. As it's not that obvious that it's there, there were only a few other people there with me (and a dog). The sun came out from behind the clouds and I had a little swim. It was glorious and so quiet that all you could here was the nature around you and the dragonflies buzzing past.Read more