Blue Springs
Discover the vibrant waters of the Blue Spring which is so pure it supplies around 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water. With a constant temperature of 11 degrees Celsius throughout the year, you might find it a bit chilly for paddling but it is a beautiful site and the walk to get there is well worth it.
The Te Waihou Walkway follows a track alongside the Waihou River, through wetlands, across rolling pastoral land and features views of small waterfalls, native bush and the famous Blue Spring with glimpses of trout along the way.
With plenty to see and do in the South Waikato area, you can easily make a day of it. Enjoy some local cheese at Over the Moon Dairy Company, take your bike and try out the Waikato River Trails, or do a spot of fly fishing in one of the many great waterways in the area.
Boutique galleries and gift stores are plentiful in Tirau while Tokoroa, a little further south, celebrates its forestry heritage with the carved Talking Poles and NZ Timber Museum.
Getting there:
The walkway is situated off Whites Road, with upstream access from Leslie Road, Putaruru. The downstream entrance is just past Leslie Road, and the Blue Spring end is 3.6km along Leslie Road.
The most scenic route is to walk to the halfway point, take the loop track then return the way you came. The best access for this option is via the Leslie Road carpark.