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Everything you need to know about rowing on Lake Rotorua — from your first free session to becoming a club member. Built for rowers of every age, and the parents cheering them on.
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Try Row Experience 9
The Try Row Experience is Rotorua Rowing Club's free, two-hour introduction to rowing for complete beginners. It is a fun, welcoming way for teens and adults to try something new, learn the basics and experience being on the water. Our trained coaches guide every session in a safe, positive and supportive environment. No previous rowing experience or special fitness level is needed, and all equipment is provided.
The Try Row Experience is completely free of charge.
We believe rowing should be accessible to everyone. We offer this experience free of charge to remove any cost barriers, giving everyone a chance to get out on the water and see if rowing is the right fit for them — with absolutely no pressure to join. It's simply a friendly, low-stakes way to see if you enjoy it. We love welcoming new faces to the water, and we hope that once you've had a go, you'll be just as passionate about rowing as we are.
Try Row is open to youths and adults, with dedicated sessions for teens, adults, and corporate teams of all ages and fitness levels — making it a great option whether you're after rowing for teens, adult fitness in Rotorua, or a corporate team-building activity. You do not need to know how to row, and you do not need to be fit — just curious and willing to give it a go. Participants aged 12–17 must have parental or guardian consent.
Absolutely — it's completely normal to feel nervous when trying something new. Our club is built on a supportive, inclusive, and friendly community, and we specialise in helping people step outside their comfort zones at their own pace. Everyone was a beginner once, and our coaches and fellow members will be there to guide and encourage you throughout the session. We've all been new to rowing and understand those nerves.
Not at all. While we're proud of our competitive rowers, we're fundamentally a community-focused, grassroots, volunteer-run club. We welcome everyone, regardless of background, fitness level, or ambitions. Whether you're looking to race competitively, get fit, or simply enjoy being on the water in a friendly, supportive environment, there's a place for you here. Rowing is for everyone who wants to give it a go.
Each free Try Row session runs for approximately two hours at our lakefront clubrooms on Lake Rotorua. You will meet the coaches, learn the basics of rowing, use club equipment and experience being part of a supportive crew. The session is designed for complete beginners, so you can learn at your own pace, ask questions and enjoy trying something new on the water.
Sessions are arranged when coach availability allows. Please register your interest and we will contact you once the next session dates are confirmed.
We run Try Row sessions throughout the year when coach availability allows. Register your interest using the relevant Adult or Teen form below, and we will contact you once the next session dates are confirmed.
Try Row is free, beginner-friendly and runs for approximately two hours from our lakefront clubrooms on Lake Rotorua. No previous rowing experience is needed, and all equipment is provided.
Bring comfortable, snug-fitting active clothing you do not mind getting damp, closed-toe shoes such as trainers, a hat and a water bottle. You may also like to bring a small snack. All rowing equipment is provided by the club for the two-hour session.
Learn to Row — 6-Week Course 8
Learn to Row is Rotorua Rowing Club's structured, paid six-week beginner course for people who want to build on their Try Row experience. It teaches more detailed rowing technique, fitness, safety awareness, teamwork and confidence on the water. The course includes six weekday indoor training sessions and six weekend on-water sessions, helping participants develop the skills to continue into regular club rowing.
The course is open to both teens and adults — anyone aged 12 and over. It's the natural next step after attending a Try Row Experience session, and no prior experience is required.
The Learn to Row course costs $150 for the full 6-week programme. This includes six weekday indoor training sessions (approximately 1 hour each) and six weekend on-water sessions (approximately 90–120 minutes each) to build your skills and confidence on the water.
Learn to Row runs over six consecutive weeks at the Rotorua Water Sports Centre, 1 Mataiawhea Street, Ohinemutu. Course dates are confirmed when each intake is scheduled. Register your interest and we will send you the confirmed dates and session times.
The course builds your skills progressively each week, covering rowing machine technique, correct body position, the drive sequence, on-water boat handling, coordination, balance, and the common terms used when communicating with other rowers. All sessions are coached by qualified club coaches, and equipment is provided throughout.
No. The club provides all boats, blades (oars), and rowing machines. Just bring comfortable active clothing, closed-toe shoes, a hat, and a water bottle.
After completing Learn to Row, you are welcome to become a Rotorua Rowing Club member. Membership lets you continue building your skills, fitness and confidence through regular training for most of the year.
Members generally complete one rowing-machine session and one on-water session each week. This helps develop strength, technique and crew skills, with opportunities to take part in regattas during the summer season if competition interests you.
Rotorua Rowing Club is a small, friendly club where many hands make light work. Members support one another, carpool to training and events, help care for the club, and work together to organise and host regattas at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
You can register using the link provided in the email sent by the club after your Try Row session. To maintain safety and high-quality coaching, we limit each course to between 4 and 12 participants. If the next course is full or the dates don't suit, we'll keep you updated on future programme dates.
Club Membership & Programmes 14
Membership is open to anyone aged 12 to 80+, and we welcome novices, beginners, recreational rowers, returning rowers, and competitive athletes alike. For those new to the sport, we encourage starting through our free Try Row Experience or our 6-week Learn to Row programme before joining as a full member — though no prior experience or specific fitness level is required. Fitness is something you build through rowing.
No. Fitness is something you build through rowing, not a prerequisite for it. Our coaches tailor training to your current ability, whether you're a complete newcomer or returning to sport after a break. Rowing is a low-impact, full-body exercise suitable for most fitness levels and ages, making it a popular choice for adult fitness in Rotorua.
Current membership fees by programme and age group are listed on our forms and membership page.
Yes. If your teenager is keen to continue rowing but finances are tight, Variety — the Children's Charity may be able to assist with partial membership costs.
Yes — adults with no experience are very welcome. The best first step is to attend our free Try Row session, then progress into the Learn to Row programme.
The minimum age for participation in club programmes is 12 years old (Year 8 and above), and participants aged 12–17 must have parental or guardian consent. There's no upper age limit — we have active rowers well into their 80s. We also offer a Coxswain course for students aged 11–14 who want to be involved in rowing without rowing themselves.
Rotorua Rowing Club offers a range of welcoming, coach-supported programmes for all ages and abilities. Programmes include the Try Row Experience (a free two-hour introduction for beginners), Learn to Row (a paid six-week beginner course), School and Teen Rowing, Masters Rowing, Community Rowing, Corporate Rowing, Para Rowing, Coxswain Training, Coach and Motor Boat Handling, and Survivors' Row for cancer survivors and supporters. Regular training takes place on Lake Rotorua, while regattas are held at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). Whether your goal is fitness, confidence, friendship, community or competition, there is a place for you at Rotorua Rowing Club.
Yes. Rotorua Rowing Club runs active school rowing pathways serving secondary schools across Rotorua. Students can begin through the Try Row or Learn to Row programmes and progress into competitive club and school racing. We work with Year 8 students and above, and schools and PE teachers interested in partnering with the club are encouraged to get in touch.
Masters Rowing is for adult novice or experienced rowers looking for a sport that builds fitness and community at the same time. Training runs on a schedule designed to fit around work and family life. Masters rowers can row purely for recreation and social fitness, or train towards masters regattas and national competitions — all experience levels are welcome, including complete beginners. It's a popular option for adults in Rotorua looking to get fit, meet people, and build an active lifestyle.
Community Rowing is for community groups who want a fun, low-pressure fitness activity in Rotorua without the demands of competitive training. Sessions run in a relaxed, social setting and suit everyone from first-time rowers to intermediate paddlers. It's ideal for groups searching for a social sport for adults, a way to get fit in Rotorua, or a supportive environment to build confidence on the water. Community groups can arrange flexible Try Row Experience and Learn to Row sessions tailored specifically to their members.
Yes. Teens aged 12–17 can start with our free, two-hour Teen Try Row Experience. It is designed for complete beginners and is run by trained coaches in a safe, positive and supportive environment. Teens who enjoy Try Row can progress into the paid six-week Learn to Row course, then consider ongoing club membership and training.
Teen Try Row sessions are scheduled when coach availability allows. Parents or caregivers can register interest, and the club will contact them when the next dates are confirmed.
Yes. Rotorua Rowing Club offers Corporate Rowing and team-building experiences for local workplaces and groups. These sessions are designed to get teams outdoors, active and working together in a supportive environment. No rowing experience is needed. Corporate teams can begin with a Try Row session, then progress into a tailored Corporate Learn to Row programme. Teams may also have the opportunity to take part in regattas at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
Coxswain Training is Rotorua Rowing Club's leadership and steering programme for students aged 11–14 who want to be part of a team sport without needing rowing strength or fitness. In the boat, the coxswain (cox) steers, calls the timing and race strategy, and feels how the boat is balancing — giving the crew constant feedback using a cox box that tracks stroke rate, pace, and time. It's a hands-on leadership role, not a physical one, though coxes train just as hard as rowers to perform under pressure.
Good coxes communicate clearly, stay calm in high-pressure moments, and build respect and trust with their crew. As with competitive rowing generally, coxswains are usually kept on the lighter side, since minimum weight limits (around 50–55kg depending on race class) apply across most competitive crew events — though this isn't a barrier for the introductory 11–14 programme. Coxes should also bring warm, dry clothes to change into after sessions, since they tend to get splashed first.
Once a young cox is ready to join the club as a full member, a coxswain membership fee applies (separate from and lower than rower fees) — current fees are listed on our membership page.
Coach and Motor Boat Handling is a practical training programme for existing club members who want to move into coaching or safety boat roles. The course covers marine safety, navigation, and motor boat handling through qualified trainers on Lake Rotorua. Once completed, members can supervise on-water sessions and support rowers from a coach or safety boat — opening up volunteer coaching and safety roles that keep the club's programmes running.
Survivors’ Row 2
Survivors' Row is a gentle, supported rowing programme offered by Rotorua Rowing Club in partnership with Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty. It gives cancer survivors and their supporters the chance to get out on the water in a relaxed, calm environment. Rowing is a whole-body exercise that builds strength and flexibility through flowing movement — and the programme is designed with your comfort and wellbeing at the centre.
After each session, there is time for coffee and a yarn.
The programme is open to cancer survivors of any kind, as well as their supporters. No rowing experience, fitness level, or prior sporting background is required. If you are living with or beyond cancer and would like to try something gentle and sociable on the water, this programme is for you.
Location & Facilities 4
Rotorua Rowing Club is based at the Rotorua Water Sports Centre (Watersports Trust Building), 1 Mataiawhea Street, Ohinemutu, Rotorua 3010, on the lakefront of Lake Rotorua.
Public parking is available at the Rotorua Water Sports Centre on Mataiawhea Street. The lakefront location is also easily accessible from the Rotorua city centre on foot or by bike.
The club's facilities include a boat shed with a fleet of rowing boats, indoor rowing machines (ergs) for land training, a kitchen, toilets, changing rooms, and direct water access to Lake Rotorua.
Yes. Lake Rotorua provides calm, flat water well suited to both beginner and competitive rowing. All on-water sessions are supervised by qualified coaches and follow club safety protocols. Life belts and safety equipment are available for all participants, and safety boats are on the water for every training session.
Getting Started 5
The easiest first step is to attend a free Try Row session. From there, our coaches will help you find the programme that suits your age, schedule, and goals.
Register online through this website — navigate to the relevant programme page and complete the registration form. For school or Para rowing enquiries, use the Contact page to reach the club directly.
No. The club provides all rowing equipment, including boats, oars, and safety gear. You only need appropriate clothing and footwear.
Use the Contact page on this website for general enquiries. School and club membership enquiries are directed to our club president, and we aim to respond within a few days. You can also find us on Facebook.
Yes. Rotorua Rowing Club is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit community sports club. All fees go directly towards insurance, equipment maintenance, facilities, and coaching resources.
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Ready to give rowing a go?
Register your interest for a free, two-hour Try Row Experience on Lake Rotorua. No experience is needed, trained coaches will support you, and all equipment is provided. We will contact you once the next session dates are confirmed.
