Boat Shed Bay | Lake Tarawera, Jetty & Hot Tub

Summary:

Soak in the hot tub with 180 degree views across Lake Tarawera, then step off the shared private jetty for a swim. Watch Mount Tarawera turn gold at sunset from the dining table. Boat Shed Bay is a four-bedroom lakefront home sleeping ten, with an outdoor hot tub, shared private jetty, gas fire, Starlink WiFi and direct lake access. Twenty minutes from Rotorua, it is the kind of place you will want to book again before you have even left.



The Space:

Step through the glass doors and the view stops you - 180 degrees of Lake Tarawera, nothing between you and the water but the deck rail. That is the first thing guests notice at Boat Shed Bay, and it does not get old.



The home spans two levels and sleeps ten across four bedrooms. Upstairs, the master bedroom has a king bed and bedroom two has a queen bed. Downstairs, bedroom three has a queen bed and bedroom four has two sets of bunks, combining to give families or two travelling couples their own separate areas. Two well-appointed bathrooms serve the house - the main bathroom upstairs with shower and toilet, and a second bathroom downstairs.



The kitchen, dining and living area span the full width of the upper floor, all facing the water. The kitchen is fully equipped for group cooking with a gas hob, dishwasher and coffee machine. The dining table seats eight with an uninterrupted view of the lake, and when the evening cools, the gas fire in the dining room is where everyone ends up. The lounge opens onto the deck, with a wall-mounted Smart TV running on Starlink so streaming is reliable and fast.



Outside, the deck wraps the house with a BBQ for long summer evenings. Down on the lakefront patio below the deck, an outdoor hot tub sits against the lake view - soak under the stars after a day on the water. A bush-lined path leads down to your own private jetty, shared with the neighbours: swim off the end, cast a line for trout, or leave the boat tied up and use it as your base for the week. Lake Tarawera is one of the clearest lakes in the region. Bush wraps around three sides of the property, giving Boat Shed Bay a private, tucked-away feel that is hard to find this close to Rotorua. A downstairs laundry with washer and dryer completes the home.



Guest Access:

You have exclusive use of the full property: both levels of the home, the deck, the hot tub, the BBQ, the bush path and the shared private jetty. The garage is reserved for the owner's belongings and is not accessible during your stay. Self check-in is via key safe - full access details are sent before arrival.



The Neighborhood:

Lake Tarawera sits 20 minutes southeast of Rotorua and operates at a different pace entirely. The lake community is small and unhurried - neighbours leave boats at jetties, the water is calm in the morning and the evenings are quiet.



From the property, the Boat Shed Bay boat ramp is a short drive (100m) for launching your own vessel. Hot Water Beach is a 15-minute boat trip across the lake, where guests dig their own natural thermal spa in the sand - a bucket-list experience found nowhere else in New Zealand. The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, preserved from the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, is worth an hour of anyone's time and is just a short drive away.



Back in Rotorua, the full Bay of Plenty offering is within reach: Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, the Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest for mountain biking and walking, the Polynesian Spa on the lakefront, and the geothermal parks of Wai-O-Tapu and Waimangu. The city has plenty of cafes, restaurants and supermarkets for stocking up before heading back to the lake.



Getting Around:

A car is essential at Boat Shed Bay. The property is about 20 minutes from Rotorua CBD and around 25 minutes from Rotorua Airport. Off-street parking is available on-site, and trailer parking is available on the roadside grass area next to the garage. Once you are settled at the lake, most of the best local activities are on the water - bring a kayak, hire one locally, or launch from the nearby ramp if you are trailering a boat. The nearest shops are in Rotorua; there is no dairy or petrol station at the lake, so stock up before you arrive.



Other Things to Note:

Our jetty - each jetty is privately owned and generally shared by two properties. To find our jetty, head down the bush path and turn right when you reach the lake. Ours is the third jetty, with the small ramp and long white bumpers on the side. If you are tying your boat up, please use the south side of the jetty (the side furthest from the house).



Interaction with Guests:

We are available by message, phone or email throughout your stay, and can pop around in person if you need anything.