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Lake Karapiro, North Island, New Zealand

A 1,920-acre reservoir, Lake Karapiro is home to the New Zealand National Rowing teams. Located on the North Island of New Zealand in the Waikato Region, the lake is best known as a world-class rowing venue as well as host to other water sports events such as yachting, powerboating, and water skiing. A dam for the Karapiro Power Station at the Waikato River forms the lake, which…
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    • All About Lake Karapiro, New Zealand

    Lake Locations: New Zealand - North Island, NZ - Waikato Region, North Island, NZ -

    A 1,920-acre reservoir, Lake Karapiro is home to the New Zealand National Rowing teams. Located on the North Island of New Zealand in the Waikato Region, the lake is best known as a world-class rowing venue as well as host to other water sports events such as yachting, powerboating, and water skiing. A dam for the Karapiro Power Station at the Waikato River forms the lake, which was created to store water for the area. Owned by the Mighty River Power, the power station is the last of eight hydroelectric power stations on the Waikato River. Just 19 miles southeast of the city of Hamilton, the Lake Karapiro dam was completed in 1947, four years behind schedule due to the outbreak of World War II and a shortage of labor and materials. Once completed, the lake flooded the original power station on the Waikato River built in 1913 by the Waihi Gold Mining Company.

    Lake Karapiro, known for its flat water, hosted the 1978 World Rowing Championships, the 1950 British Empire Games, the Waka Ama (outrigger canoeing) Nationals, and the NZGOP Hydroplaning Racing. Activities on the lake include kayaking, raft building, yachting, waka ama, cycling, bird watching, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, golf, and swimming. Vacation rentals are available around Lake Karapiro, as well as campgrounds and lodging. Whether you stay directly on the lake or in a small town close by, Lake Karapiro is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy many outdoor pursuits.

    When fishing Lake Kapairo, expect to catch large brown trout and rainbow trout, which are stocked each year by the Fish and Game. Due to the many water activities, you may be competing for lake real estate when fishing but it’s well worth it. Access to the lake is plentiful with numerous boat ramps along highway 1 on the northern shore and on a side road on the eastern shore. This L-shaped lake offers the best fishing at the head of the lake where the water leaves the dam. The currents here are very fast so the fish tend to be near the bottom. The two major tributaries of Lake Karapiro, Pokaiwhenua Stream and Little Waipa Stream, are excellent places to drop your line.

    Lake Karapiro is situated in the Waipa District, which is home to around 40,000 residents mainly in the urban centers of Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Pirongia, and Kihikihi. The district is dominated by an agricultural base with dairy farming, deer farming, fruit production, sheep and beef ranching, and thoroughbred horse breeding. It hosts the largest agricultural exhibition in New Zealand, the National Agricultural Fieldays.

    For a North Island water wonderland, head to Lake Karapiro where the water is smooth as glass, blue as the sea, and as welcoming as it gets. Enjoy a casual weekend or relax for several weeks as you water ski, wake board, and kayak on Lake Karapiro.

    Things to Do at Lake Karapiro

    These are some activities in the Lake Karapiro, New Zealand area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Karapiro?

    Lake Karapiro has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Brown Trout
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Karapiro

    If you’re considering a Lake Karapiro lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Karapiro Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Karapiro lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Karapiro Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Mighty River Power

    Surface Area: 1,920 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 170 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 166 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 176 feet

    Average Depth: 36 feet

    Maximum Depth: 100 feet

    Completion Year: 1947

    Lake Karapiro Map

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