Lake Okataina

Lake Okataina is the northernmost and largest of four smaller lakes lying between Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The others are Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake), Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), and Lake Okareka. All lie within the Okataina caldera, along its western edge.

Lake Okataina
Aerial view from the south
Lake Okataina
Location	Bay of Plenty, North Island
Coordinates	38°07′S 176°25′E
Type	crater lake
Basin countries	New Zealand
Max. length	6.2 km (3.9 mi)[1]
Max. width	5.0 km (3.1 mi)[1]
Surface area	10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi)[1]
Average depth	44.0 m (144.4 ft)[1]
Max. depth	78.5 m (258 ft)[1]
Surface elevation	311 m (1,020 ft)[1]
References	[1]

Unlike many other lakes in the region, Lake Okataina is completely encircled by native forest. It also has no inlets or outlets. Perhaps as a result, over the past 30 years, the level of the lake has risen and fallen in a range of about 5 metres.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of laughter" for Ōkataina.[2]

The lake can be accessed by road via Hinehopu on the southern shores of Lake Rotoiti. At the end of the road there is a large sandy beach, a massive grassed area and the privately owned Okataina Lodge. Due to changes in the surface level of the lake, the lodge jetty has at times been either completely submerged or left high and dry.

The area around the lodge is heavily populated by tammar wallabies introduced from Australia in the 19th century.[3]