Lake Tikitapu, more commonly known as 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. The other three are Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake), Lake Okareka, and Lake Okataina. Lake Tikitapu gets its name, Blue Lake, for its aqua colour. Its stunning blue colour can be attributed to the pumice and rhyolite that lies on the lake bed. Lake Tikitapu was formed 13,300 years ago as the result of a lava dam. The lake has a flat bed and, as a collapsed volcanic crater, it only has a maximum depth of 27.5m. The lake is approximately 150 hectares in size, with a catchment size of 620 hectares. Activities and Leisure There are plenty of activities to do on and surrounding the lake. On the lake, swimming, boating, trout fishing and watersports are popular activities. Both rainbow trout and brook trout reside in the lake, making it very popular with experienced and recreational fishers. Popular with both locals and visitors; walking and biking tracks surround the lake. The 5.5km Blue Lake walking track circles the lake and weaves through native bush and exotic conifers of the Whakarewarewa Forest. The track comes to an end, reaching the beaches at the end of the lake. The track has been graded as easy, with the average walker taking an hour and thirty minutes to complete the track. The Tangaroamihi biking trail connects Lake Tikitapu to the Whakarewarewa Forest mountain bike trail network. It is a grade 2, 2.5km trail. The available facilities at Lake Tikitapu include BBQ's and picnic tables, children's playgrounds, ski lanes and boat ramps and public toilets, making it a popular choice for families. Lake Tikitapu hosts numerous events throughout the year; these events range from rowing regattas, wakeboarding competitions, Waka Ama events and many more. History Lake Tikitapu is immersed in Māori history. The name itself is stemmed from a sacred greenstone, or pounamu, necklace that is believed to have been worn by a daughter of a high ranking chief. It is understood that the daughter lost the necklace as she bathed in the crystal waters. New Zealand flatwater canoeist, Lisa Carrington, has competed in events numerous times at Blue Lake regattas. In 2018, she won all six of her events, and in 2020 Carrington won both the K1 (single kayak) 200m and