Lake provides for the perfect parade

Hundreds of people turned out to the Classic and Wooden Boat Parade. Photo / Ben Fraser

Hundreds of people turned out to get a glimpse of boats all shapes and sizes at the weekend's Classic and Wooden Boat Parade.

The annual event, in its 18th year, was held at Lake Rotoiti on Saturday and saw more than 500 people from across the country and Australia join in the activities on offer - on and off the water.

The parade featured more than 80 wooden boats, some of which date back to the 1890s.

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

Commodore Fraser Wilson said the boats first paraded in a flotilla around Okere Falls before the parade moved to Wairau Bay for participants to have a picnic.

The slower boats led the parade, with the faster ones parading around Okawa Bay and speedboats going to Otaramarae, before they all headed to Wairau Bay, he said.

Mr Wilson said the event couldn't have gone better.

"It was fantastic. The weather was kind to us, the wind died down and we had a huge number of entries."

There was also plenty to do for the family, including a tug of war and an egg throwing competition, which by all accounts had a messy ending, he said.

"I think it was a great family day out for everyone involved. It was fantastic to see so many people come from out of town and support the Rotorua community by coming here and falling in love with the place."

Mr Wilson said Lake Rotoiti was the perfect location for the event. "Lake Rotoiti is an iconic lake with little beaches and it's sheltered. It's perfect for wooden boats and I think [this event] has certainly put it on the map."

For more information visit www.woodenboatparade.co.nz