w h i t e w a t e r • r i V e r • s e a • m u l t i s p o r t ... - Canoe & Kayak

Stupendous Lake Arapuni
by Ruth E. Henderson
Lake Arapuni, under the shadow of Mt Maungatautari (795m)
is proving to be a superb kayaking spot. Lying 16 km west of
Putaruru and 65 km south east of Hamilton it is accessible
to most North Island paddlers (and trampers) and offers
fishing, boating, water ski-ing and picnicking.
Lake Arapuni is one of several manmade lakes formed as part of a
hydroelectricity scheme. Covering nine square kilometres it is the second
largest in the Waikato hydro system. The dam, at the small settlement of
Arapuni at the lakes northern end, completed in 1929, was the first to be
constructed and it is the oldest operating station on the Waikato River.
A feature of the bush lined gorge below the powerhouse is the historic
suspended swing bridge. It is 152 metres long and hangs 54 metres above
the power station. It was erected in 1925 to enable easy access to the village
by power station workers.
In summer, the river banks are full of thing to see: Coprosma and Corokia in
berry, cabbage trees in flower, dragonflies lazily hovering by, fantails darting
hither and thither, while fish disturb the rivers surface. Leaving from Jones’
Landing and heading south, the Anglers Lodge, at the end of Landing Road
(with a wee detour up the Mangare Stream) is a good 10 km paddle and lunch
destination.
For kayakers the main attraction has to be dramatic rock faces and towering
cliffs at the dam end of the lake, especially in the dawn’s mist, before the waterski
boats churn up the water and break the stillness. The reflections of Pock
marked and patterned rock faces with filmy ferns clinging tenaciously at the
waters edge are just jaw dropping. The peacefulness is stupefying.
Pock marked rock
Peter Beadle
Photos by Chris Baillie, Peter Beadle, Ruth Henderson, Richard Saysell
Arapuni Dam
Lunch break at The Landin
Ferns reflected
Chris Baillie
28 ISSUE FORTYone • 2 0 0 7