our new friends Linda and Phil had been trying to organize a trip on the lake in late summer but somehow weather and other stuff meant it did not eventuate. We decided that we needed to check the lake out in anticipation of a trip maybe in the spring. Launched at Acacia Bay – close to Taupo town and had a really nice paddle up to look at the a Maori rock carving created in recent times on a cliff face.

Was a 2 hour paddle – weather amazing , really cold when we started but the brisk paddling and the autumn sun soon warmed us up. Distant views of the snow clad peaks reminded us that summer is past.

the crystal clear water of the Lake is very special – and I fully understand how the local conservancy authorities have taken control of the situation and started to incentivize farmers on the western side of the lake to retire land from livestock farming in favour of forestry and other land uses that will not leach nitrogen into the pristine waters on this lake.