Last Updated: 20th Nov 2023
Last Updated: 20th Nov 2023
Closed More info
Lakefront Road (which runs alongside the Lake Lake Rotokākahi foreshore) is closed to the public due to Iwi concerns about breaches of tikanga and tapu (mostly people allowing their horses and dogs to bathe in and drink from the lake, which is tapu).
Please notify us if this has changed.
Grunt Factor: 14
Gnarl Factor: 13
14.0km
300m
300m
540m
Front country - easily accessible
Loop
Undulating, some big hills
Dog Friendly
Native bush
Lakeside
Sealed Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.3%
Average Downhill Gradient: -7.7%
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2:00
Slow
1:30
Moderate
1:00
Fast
Start from Blue Lake car park and head up the road towards Green lake. There's a slight drag up the hill to Lookout car park, or if weather allows there is a walking track that angles off into the bush and takes you up some stairs to Lookout car park. Follow the trail from the right hand corner of the car park through gate and continue along the track. At the crossroads, continue straight on up the hill. What follows is around 4km of steady downhill until you reach Branch Road on your left.
Turn down Branch Road and at the bottom take the left hand turn onto Green Lake Road. Follow this track until you reach the Green Lake Picnic Area. Left turn onto Lakefront Road and stay on this track until the top of the Green Lake Hill, steepest climb! At the crossroads, again go straight on and down to complete the loop of the Blue Lake. The trail naturally leads you back to the Blue Lake Car Park.
Lake views, native bush
Ample free parking at Lakefront
11 km
12 minutes
Yes
No
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
Be sure to take Branch Road as Eight Mile Gate Road is closed due to logging truck traffic. Do not use Mountain Bike Tracks either.
Very patchy.
Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.
Water tap at Blue Lake car park, no other water sources
Can be prone to muddiness of Lake Front Road and on return leg of Blue Lake
Be careful of walkers around Blue Lake, trail can narrow at points
Sequioa Eatery
Tarawera Road
https://sequoiaeatery.co.nz/
Operated by a member of Rotorua Trail Running Club, great supporter of Trail Running. Amazing food options.
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Blue and Green Lake Loops
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A fantastic run if you're wanting a taste of the famous and amazing Rotorua trails. It's tracks that are used in most of the Rotorua off trail (and some road) events too so worth doing to get yourself familiar with the tracks.
October 3, 2020
RB
Great trail but the bottom part of the green lake track was closed so we headed back, took moerangi Rd then Hill Rd and back around to the green lake . So many different types of terrain. Lots of great trails everywhere just keep checking the maps and your gps as not well sign posted.
January 25, 2020
NN
Beautiful trail. Really runnable even in the rain like when I did it. The hills are doable and the views amazing. Beautiful forest
August 8, 2019
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.
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