Last updated October 2026
Lake Puketirini is a deep freshwater lake on the western edge of Huntly, about 27 kilometres north of central Hamilton. It fills the old Weavers opencast coal mine, and the lake and its reserve, once known as Weavers Lake, are now a Waikato District Council reserve used for swimming, kayaking, waka ama, boating and water-skiing.
A walking and cycling path circles the shore, and there is parking close to the water. Waikato Regional Council tests the water every week over summer from a spot off the jetty on the eastern edge. The site holds an Excellent long-term grade on LAWA.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Dec–Mar by Waikato Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Lake Puketirini
Sunday 25 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine E. coli results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (102 per 100 mL from 60 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Puketirini reserve, reached off Rotowaro Road on the western edge of Huntly
- Distance from Hamilton
- About 27 km north of central Hamilton
- Water
- Freshwater lake in a former opencast coal mine, up to 60 metres deep, no tides
- Water quality
- Excellent (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from December to March by Waikato Regional Council, off the jetty on the eastern edge
- Other uses
- Kayaking, waka ama, boating, water-skiing and scuba dive training
- Boat ramp
- Key access only, with a season pass from Waikato District Council’s Huntly office
- Facilities nearby
- Car parking beside the lake, plus a boat ramp, jetties and toilets at the reserve
About Lake Puketirini
Lake Puketirini sits immediately west of Huntly township, between the town and Lake Waahi. Waikato District Council describes the reserve as about 95 hectares, with a lake of about 40 hectares that reaches depths of up to 60 metres.
Native and exotic plantings cover much of the land around the shore, and a network of paths and cycle routes links the car parks, jetties and lakeside.
The lake is a product of the Huntly coalfield. The area was known as Puketirini well before mining, and old maps up to 1949 show a smaller lake, Lake Rotoiti, on the site.
Mining began here in the 1950s, and the Weavers opencast mine later worked the pit with a bucketwheel excavator and conveyor belt until 1993, taking out about 2.3 million tonnes of coal, most of it for the Glenbrook steelworks.
Once mining stopped the pit was left to fill: the shoreline had been shaped by 1999 and the lake was full by 2005.
Solid Energy owned the site after the mine closed, and in December 2006 Waikato District Council took over part of it for recreation.
In 2012 the council and Solid Energy put more than half a million dollars into new sealed roads, access ways and car parking. At the time, Mayor Allan Sanson said the lake “has some of the best quality water in the district”.
The council has also worked on the lake’s ecology. An independent ecological assessment found threatened and uncommon species in and around the lake, including banded kōkopu, giant kōkopu, pied shag and spotless crake, and the council received funding from Waikato Regional Council’s Environmental Initiatives Fund for planting.
The council calls the lake a “much-loved Huntly resource”, and on a summer day you will find swimmers, waka ama crews, kayakers, water-skiers and dive trainees sharing the water, with walkers and cyclists on the path around it.
Swimming and Water Quality at Lake Puketirini
LAWA lists swimming first among the lake’s uses, and Waikato Regional Council includes Puketirini in its weekly summer monitoring of popular freshwater recreation sites. Samples are taken off the jetty on the eastern edge of the lake every week from December to March, and the results are posted on LAWA.
The site has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade, based on 60 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25. Across 73 tests between December 2019 and February 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming.
An Excellent grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable, but it is a long-term record rather than a promise for any given day, so check the latest result on LAWA before you swim.
Stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain. Waikato Regional Council goes further and suggests avoiding swimming for two to three days after heavy or prolonged rain, even at sites with good water quality, and keeping away from stormwater outlets and flocks of birds.
The council also checks the lake for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) during the swimming season. Of 51 checks between the summers of 2019/20 and 2023/24, none reached the alert or action level.
Blooms can still build up quickly in hot, settled weather, so stay out if the water looks bright green like pea soup. Take extra care with dogs and toddlers, as even a small amount of toxic algae can make them seriously ill, and check LAWA for algae alerts before you go.
The lake is up to 60 metres deep and is shared with powerboats, water-skiers, kayakers and waka ama crews. Swim close to the shore, keep clear of the boat ramp and jetties when boats are launching, and watch children closely.
Getting There and Facilities
Lake Puketirini is on the western side of Huntly, and the reserve is reached from Rotowaro Road. The council upgraded the access road and main car park in 2024, repairing the accessway off Rotowaro Road and filling potholes across the car park. The reserve has a boat ramp, jetties, toilets and car parking.
The walking path around the lake is open to everyone without a pass. To use the boat ramp you need an access pass from the Waikato District Council office in Huntly: for the 2026/27 season it costs $79 and runs from 19 October 2026 to 5 April 2027, and you will need your car and trailer registration numbers to buy one.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Waikato Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result, algae alerts and the long-term grade for Lake Puketirini.
Waikato District Council: rivers and lakes in the district, including Lake Puketirini’s uses and boat ramp access passes.
Waikato Regional Council: how the council monitors Puketirini and other freshwater swimming sites over summer, with advice on rain and algae.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Lake Puketirini?
Yes. LAWA lists swimming among the lake’s main uses, and Waikato Regional Council tests the water weekly over summer. Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Lake Puketirini?
The lake has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 73 tests between December 2019 and February 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming.
When is the water at Lake Puketirini tested?
Waikato Regional Council samples the lake off the jetty on its eastern edge every week from December to March. It also checks for blue-green algae during the swimming season.
Why was it called Weavers Lake?
The lake fills the old Weavers opencast coal mine, which closed in 1993. Waikato District Council referred to the site as Weavers Lake and reserve before it became known as Lake Puketirini.
How deep is Lake Puketirini?
Waikato District Council gives the lake’s depth as up to 60 metres, over an area of about 40 hectares. Swim close to the shore unless you are confident in deep open water.
Do I need a pass to use the boat ramp?
Yes. The boat ramp is key access only, and passes are sold by the Waikato District Council office in Huntly. You do not need a pass to use the walking path.
How far is Lake Puketirini from Hamilton?
The lake is about 27 kilometres north of central Hamilton, on the western edge of Huntly.
What should dog owners know about Lake Puketirini?
Blue-green algae can be deadly to dogs. No checks at the lake reached alert level between 2019/20 and 2023/24, but check LAWA for alerts and keep dogs out of water that looks green or scummy.
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