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*Lake Rotorua
Rotorua is a popular place with tourists as there are many
spectacular thermal areas and hot pools. There are several
smaller lakes in the area - Rotoiti, Rotoma, Okataina and
Tarawera, which are beautiful and provide some great walks, but
are better for water skiing and trout fishing than for
windsurfing As the surrounding hills disturb the wind. Rotorua is
a tourist location and not especially windy by NZ standards,
which means it's still pretty good. Local windsurfing personality
is Ken Kingsbury who provides
windsurfing instruction, designs and builds simulators and generally promotes
the sport. There is also a local club,
and if the wind is off then plenty of other outdoor pursuits are
on.
 Dial-a-forecast: 0900 999 18
 Info Centre: 67 Fenton St. Rotorua.
Ph 07 348 5179.
 Local Shop:
- Central Watersports. 4 Tete St. Ph 07 348 8219.
- Rotorua Windsurfers. 12 Willow Ave, Hannah's Bay. Ph 07
345 5327
   
Access: Is from Memorial Drive. Grass and tarseal
rigging and parking areas. Toilets.
Suits: Slalom, longboard. Beginners......
Wind: N,NE,E are best.
Water: Flat - short chop. Shallow.
Watch: Floatplanes and other lakefront
users. Weeds - a raked back fin is essential at the lake.
Fresh water mussels and swans. Hypothermia - survival time in
winter water is 10 minutes.There are numerous underwater
obstacles to take out fins etc.
 
Access: 1 km south of the airport, follow signs to
the windsurfing school. Motorcamp, toilets, BBQ area,
concrete ramp...
Suits: Slalom, longboard. Beginners.......
Wind: SW - NE are onshore.
Water: Flat, small chop. Shallow out to 50
metres.
Watch: Weeds.
Hire School: Available at Rotorua
Windsurfers.
In Detail: Best for long board sailing, or
short board if the wind is from the North and strong, but
sailable round to SW. About 10k from the city towards
Whakatane turn down Lee Road (0.5 km south of airport), head
north at lake edge to reserve. This is where the local club
meets, has excellent rigging and a sloping beach providing
deep water about 10m out.
Access: 15 km from town along the Whakatane-Rotoiti
road. Turn left at the Ohau Lodge sign.
Suits: Slalom. Beginners.....
Wind: S,SW,W,NW,N. Accelerates up to 5 knots
stronger than other areas on the lake.
Water: Flat - short chop. Shallow out to 250
metres.
Watch: A few rocks - ask the locals. A few
fins have been nuked. Shoes are essential.
In Detail: Same road out of the city, keep
going until past the main river bridge, left on the
Ngongotaha road, just after the Ohau Channel Holiday Park.
Best place for short boards when the wind in in the SW,
channeling gives the wind an extra boost here. Grass rigging,
parking and easy launching with shallow water allows walking
back if the wind dies.
4 HAMURANA BEACH
Access: Take the Ngongotaha Road , go
around lake about 6km to reserve opposite golf course. On the
western side, this is the place to go in an Easterly, watch
for tree stumps in the water though!
5 LAKE TARAWERA (Stony Point Reserve)
Access: Take the Whakatane road 2km until
you reach Lake Tarawera, keep going till you see the reserve
sign. Clear and deep, this lake is sailable in S to NE winds
but has more rocks than sand. Don't be tempted to try nearby
Blue Lake, the hills spoil the wind.
 ...more information
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