30 September 2022
Waitōharuru / Tarawera Landing boat ramp and jetty is now open to the public, ahead of the official trout fishing season this weekend.
The new boat ramp and jetty is part of the wider redevelopment of Waitōharuru / Tarawera Landing which began in January 2022. This involved the:
- Realignment of the jetty and boat ramp, and addition of a new pontoon to create a separation of space for boat movements in and out of the lake.
- Relocation and angling the jetty to separate swimmers from the boat ramp area.
- Optimise parking areas and define boat trailer and coach parking.
- A pedestrian-friendly zone to separate boat and coach parking, and provide better connectivity between the café and lake edge.
- Enhanced lake edge with a new boardwalk.
- Information and signage to conserve and promote the cultural and heritage value of the reserve.
- Improve function and visual appearance of the reserve by adding picnic and lawn areas, landscaping and park furniture.
The Landing Café has remained open during the project, and will host a “Blessing of the Boats” tonight – an old Scottish tradition for anglers to mark the eve of the new fishing season.
Council have worked with Tūhourangi Tribal Authority along with other key stakeholders to bring this project to life.
Due to delays, land based work including the resealing of the carpark and work on the rain gardens is still ongoing, as well as a swimming platform and accessible picnic tables and chairs to be installed. The entire project is expected to be completed by late spring.
Alongside the parking at Tarawera Landing, there are also three other boat ramps down Spencer Road which boaties can use. More space has also been created for users at Kariri Point / Boatshed Bay.
Users are reminded that the area is still an operating worksite, so please take care if you are heading out fishing this season, and be mindful of others also enjoying the space.