Beginning opposite the parking area, the track winds gently uphill to the track junction. To walk around the lake, turn right and follow a short section of gravelled track before dropping down towards Five Minute Beach. Here a broad tree stump provides a good spot to view the lake.
Long Beach sweeps along the eastern side of the lake and is an ideal spot for a picnic or rest stop. There is a toilet here.
The track continues to the northern shore where three of the lake's four tributary streams enter the lake. The lake usually has no visible outflow, however when the water levels are low a small outflow can be seen near the shore on the southern side of the lake.
Continuing on, you pass Ten Minute Beach and soon return to the track junction. From here it's downhill to the carpark. Allow two hours for a leisurely walk around the lake.
Shorter option
From the road, take the track up to the junction and turn left. This short 20 minute walk will bring you to Ten Minute Beach, a pleasant picnic and swimming spot in summer.
11 km from Tūrangi off SH47, the parking area is signposted on the south side of Te Ponanga Saddle.
Take care crossing the busy road from the car park to the start of the track.
No dogs
Dogs are not permitted on this track.
No drones
Unauthorised use of drones is prohibited. You must have a permit to fly a drone.
DOC does not generally approve permits to fly drones in this national park and we do not recommend you apply for one.
Rotopounamu supports a wide range of species and a variety of ecosystems, including podocarp, broadleaved and beech forests, and the lake with associated wetlands.
Birdlife thrives in this World Heritage area thanks to the pest control efforts of local community group Project Tongariro. Of note are small passerines including toutouwai/North Island robin, tītīpounamu/rifleman and kōmiromiro/tomtit - birds that are particularly vulnerable to introduced predators.
Project Tongariro and DOC work together to protect the native biodiversity of Rotopounamu through a sustained integrated management approach. Learn more about restoration at Rotopounamu.
Rotopounamu fills a crater nestled into the western side of Mount Pihanga. It's 9 metres deep and covers one square kilometre.
The name of the lake comes from the Māori words 'roto' (lake) and 'pounamu' (greenstone).
| Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | +64 7 892 3729 |
| tongarirovc@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | Whakapapa Village State Highway 48 Mount Ruapehu 3951 |
| Hours | Visitor centre hours and services |
| DOC Customer Service Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0800 275 362 |
| turangi@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | DOC offices |