Give your shutter finger some exercise at beautiful Lake Mangamahoe, an ideal location for taking pictures of Taranaki Maunga.

Just south of New Plymouth, picturesque Lake Mangamahoe is an excellent destination for photographers who want great shots of Taranaki Maunga. The best view of the mountain will be found at the far end of the lake. The lake's other attractions include geese, ducks, forest walks, and mountain bike tracks.

Lake Rotokare, 'the rippling lake' in Māori, is near Eltham. Set within a 212-hectare domain containing kahikatea, tawa, mahoe, and rimu trees, the lake has an excellent walkway that starts at the car park. There are many birds to see, because the lake is an important stopover for various migrating species. Allow approximately an hour and a half for the walk - a bit more if you want to photograph the fabulous birdlife.

In South Taranaki, Lake Rotorangi was formed when a hydro dam was built on the Pātea River. It's 46 kilometres long, making it perfect for water skiing, kayaking, and fishing (rainbow and brown trout).

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