A swimmable lake that looks like coke!

Lake Rotopokaka has a distinctive red-brown, tea-stained, or cola-like color, earning it the nickname 'coca cola lake' due to natural tannins and peat from the surrounding wetlands infusing the water. This dark, rich colour is a natural phenomenon, making this hidden gem SUCH a cool unique swimming spot to add to your NZ roadtrip list. The surrounding catchment is manuka scrub, with pohutukawa, cabbage tree and flax along the eastern margin. The lake has no inflows or outflows. The large areas of wetland adjacent to the lake provides good habitat for many aquatic birds.

Swimming at Coca Cola Lake:

Yes! Coca cola lake is absolutely swimmable, lots of locals come often for a swim - bringing along ladders to do their manu's/boms. It's shallow close to the shore so super safe for kids. Māori traditions even speak of the lake having healing qualities.

You can fully submerge your head without any staining to your skin, and the water is considered safe for swimming. It’s also said to be drinkable, although we wouldnt drink it ourselves just to be safe.

Tips:

- On a sunny day is when you'll see the tea like colour the best (not so much on a grey day)

• Gravel road access

- Phone reception can be patchy

- The water may stain your swimwear although we've never heard or read of this actually happening

- The shoreline is fragile, so stick to marked paths and take everything out when you leave.

- Be aware that at times algae can appear (like many of our NZ waters), making the lake unsuitable for swimming. When this happens there are usually warning signs in place, or you can check this website before you go to check the status (currently early 2026 its swimmable) https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/northland-region/swimming/lake-rotopokaka-coca-cola-at-picnic-area/swimsite

Reviews:

'Super beautiful lake and surroundings. The lake is refreshing and naturally the collie of black tea or cola. If you swim a bit further non you can collect a silky soil from the floor and have a exfoliating session. Wonderful beach front freedom camping down the road with cold show and toilet. Just don’t get stuck in the sand like we did! 🥝💜' - Gracie, Google

''Lake is beautiful to see and for a morning swim. We also spent few nights at the beach next to the lake (free-camping for self-contained). You have the perfect view of the sunrise from there. Breathtaking. Public toilets are also a few minutes' walk away. There is a free cold shower. This place is so far our favorite of all the free campsites on the North Island. Enjoy your visit there!' -Annabel, Google

'This is a weird lake. Doesn't look like anything special until you go up to the water and realise the randomness of the colour. Just down the path a little is a beautiful wide beach too, so certainly worth the detour'. - Sarah, Google

Handy sites:

https://backyardtravelfamily.com/coca-cola-lake-northland/

https://ourlakesourfuture.co.nz/lakes/rotopokaka/

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17nqRWuMvY/

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17rrwKvjt7/

https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/northland-region/swimming/lake-rotopokaka-coca-cola-at-picnic-area/swimsite