Dinghy cruising doesn’t get more Kiwi than a laid-back, self-sufficient adventure on one of the country’s most stunning volcanic lakes—and the recent DCNZ raid on Lake Tarawera certainly lived up to expectations. Organised informally but executed with typical dinghy cruiser grit, the four-day event (spanning from Thursday, 27th February 2025, night setup through to Sunday, Sunday 2nd March) brought together a hardy band of sailors, their boats, and their camping kits for a scenic and sometimes soggy expedition.
Lake Tarawera, nestled beneath its namesake mountain in the Bay of Plenty region, is vast, deep, and steeped in geological drama. It’s not a place for the faint-hearted—or the underprepared. With no support boat, patchy cellphone reception, and campsites dependent on prevailing winds, the emphasis was firmly on self-rescue, VHF comms, and bringing all your own kit. The idea? “Your trip is your trip,” as Ross Barnett, who documented the journey, put it.
Ross’s video, which has already racked up over 1,600 views on YouTube, captures both the charm and challenges of the weekend. Things kicked off at Boatshed Bay, where the early arrivers launched under headlamps on Thursday evening and camped in vans before taking to the water on Friday. From there, it was all on.
The fleet cruised south to Hayro Stream, where the first reward awaited: a soak in a natural hot pool. Spirits were high despite the persistent rain. On Saturday, cruisers pushed east toward the lake’s “plug hole”—a dramatic spot where the lake’s water exits, and one you don’t want to get too cosy with in a dinghy. Sunday brought a race westward to the lake’s only café, followed by a cruise to the mysterious “secret lagoon” up north—a favourite hideaway of small-boat designer John Welsford.
As with any good dinghy cruising event, it wasn’t just the destinations that made the trip memorable—it was the people, the camaraderie, and the humour. Rain was a constant companion, leading to scenes of cruisers bailing out their boats, hanging soggy gear, and huddling around portable heaters with a kettle on the boil. “I was a drowned rat—like everyone else,” Ross narrates, before declaring a well-earned glass of wine “a good idea.”
Among the participants were seasoned hands like Peter and his grandson Wyatt, who fearlessly headed out first in the rain, and newcomers like Jason, who brought along a handsome Comate. Jack’s FAR 5000 provided shelter, warmth, and the kind of dry comfort that quickly made it the envy of the wet and weary.
Despite the weather—or perhaps because of it—the raid was a resounding success. It showcased not just Lake Tarawera’s moody beauty, but the enduring appeal of dinghy cruising: independence, exploration, and shared experience, no matter how damp. As Ross summed it up, “It’s nice being in a tent on the boat.” And after four days on the lake, with the birds singing and the last of the fleet arriving, it really was.
