Lake Okareka is a small lake on New Zealand’s North Island, 12 km south-east from Rotorua. It’s surrounded by picturesque hills and forests, and is off the beaten path of tourists. The lake is a place for recreation – swimming, boating, fishing – and on its shores lies a small rural settlement with lovely homes.

We never heard about this lake before our daughter-in-law’s brother and his wife offered their “bach” (holiday home) there as a possible home base for our explorations of the region. We delightfully accepted the offer.

Robyn and Scott are outdoor enthusiasts and this place gives them easy access to a variety of outdoor sports and recreation. For us, it meant we could drive to some of the attractions easily and also enjoy the lake itself.

We arrived here from the Hamilton Gardens on Friday, November 8, in the late afternoon. The next day, on Saturday, we drove to Hobbiton (only an hour), and on Sunday, we visited the Orakei Korako Thermal Park (an hour and a half drive).

During the three nights at the “bach,” we felt at home, and enjoyed the quiet and peace of the place. After the day’s activities, we made sure to explore the lake and its surroundings. But just being outside and seeing the clear water and the reflection of the mountains in it, we felt close to nature and happy that we were in such a beautiful place.

On Saturday, after we returned from Hobbiton, we went for a walk around the lake. During the almost two hours, we strolled in the forest area and on the wooden walkways by the lake, and delighted in the many charming views.

We saw families relaxing on the beach and young people swimming and playing in the relatively shallow water.

Thank you, Robyn and Scott, for allowing us to be in your lovely place and experience the beauty of this area.