Flotilla will parade on Lake Rotoiti

Wooden boats and their crews parade on Lake Rotoiti this weekend. Photo / File

Lake Rotoiti is the perfect lake for wooden boats and this weekend visitors can see them in all their glory at the annual Classic and Wooden Boat Parade.

This year is the 18th annual parade and, as well as the boats on the water, there will be a picnic and children's activities.

Commodore Fraser Wilson said the lake had become home for many wooden boats, he would be out on his own restored Marjorie Rosa and the lake was home to a wooden boat builder favoured by many.

"People love and appreciate wooden boats and those who have them," Mr Wilson said.

"If you put a wooden boat on Lake Taupo it would take two days to get from one end to the other but Lake Rotoiti is an iconic lake with little beaches and it's sheltered. It's perfect for wooden boats."

There are boats coming from Taupo and Auckland and Mr Wilson said he had crew travelling from Australia to be on his boat.

His boat was built in 1930 and took four years to restore.

The boats will parade in a flotilla around the Okere Arm near SH33, Okere Falls, from 10am and then at 10.30am the parade will move off to cruise to Wairau Bay, where a picnic will be held for participants.

The slower boats lead off first and will proceed directly to Wairau Bay, faster boats, including launches, will parade around Okawa Bay and then proceed to Wairau Bay, speedboats will go to Otaramarae and then to Wairau Bay.

In the past the parade has included wooden kayaks, wooden dinghies, wooden steam powered boats, various wooden yachts, speedboats and a large flotilla of resident launches.

Mr Wilson said they were expecting at least 80 craft.

The oldest will be from the 1890s, up to replicas built in more recent years.

Details

What: Classic and Wooden Boat Parade
Where: Lake Rotoiti
When: Saturday, February 7, from 10am
How much: Free