The Blue Springs Putāruru walk is a must-do in New Zealand, celebrated for its lush, green landscapes, and crystal-clear waters. The trail follows the Te Waihou Walkway, where you’ll find water so pure it supplies 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water.
Even knowing it’s one of the most natural water sources, still won’t prepare you for how beautiful this place is. To make the most of your visit, this guide has everything you need to know to plan your visit.
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BLUE SPRINGS PUTĀRURU WALK LOCATION
This picturesque gem is can be found in Putāruru, within the Waikato region of New Zealand. Its central location makes it accessible from several key cities. Auckland is just over two hours away, Tauranga is just an hour, and Rotorua is a 40-minute drive. Visitors from Matamata can reach it in 30 minutes, while those from Hamilton can expect about an hour-long journey. Being within driving distance of several major cities means this spot is a perfect day-trip destination.
Parking tips
As it currently stands, access to the Blue Springs is best via Leslie Road. The Whites Road entrance still remains closed due to ongoing structural updates.
While a small parking lot is available on Leslie Road, it fills quickly due to the popularity of the springs. However, if you find it’s full when you arrive many others use roadside parking instead.
Parking roadside may mean that you’re in for a bit of a walk. So, if you’re able to spare an early morning, I’d suggest avoiding the hassle of parking further away by getting here before the crowds.
HOW TO GET TO BLUE SPRINGS PUTĀRURU
The Blue Springs are located in a fairly remote part of the Waikato so having your own vehicle is essential. If driving isn’t an option, guided tours are an alternative. Some tours also include nearby attractions like Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, so if visiting from further afield it’s a great way to fill your itinerary for the day. GetYourGuide offers a few of these tours to choose from but this one in particular combines the Blue Springs, Hobbiton, and the Glowworm Caves ensuring you have the ultimate Waikato experience.
KEY INSIGHTS FOR THE BLUE SPRINGS PUTĀRURU WALK
The Blue Springs Putāruru walk from Leslie Road consists of a well-maintained, flat path, making the area accessible for most fitness levels.
This trail also follows the Waihou River, meaning you’ll enjoy the clear, blue waters for most of the walk. Before long (roughly ten minutes) you’ll arrive at the view point which is the main part visitors come to see. From here you can continue the walk for an additional hour which with the closure, will be there-and-back. This follows the river and you may find it’s quieter than the rest of the track.
In previous years swimming was allowed in the springs but this now been changed to protect the fragile ecosystem. According to New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, these restrictions have significantly improved water quality and habitat health. It’s definitely an aim to continue this work so please respect these rules and stay on the trail.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Timing your visit for the Blue Springs Putāruru walk can either make or break your experience. This is purely due the large amount of crowds the springs draws in. Though it’s easy to see why, there are a couple ways to get around it.
My first and most important tip is; the earlier, the better. The earlier you arrive, the fewer crowds you’ll encounter. Off-season or a mid-week over a weekend visit will also help significantly. However, you do want to ensure that you visit on a sunny day as this really brings out the beautiful blue and green hues that the springs are famous for.
PHOTOGRAPHING BLUE SPRINGS PUTĀRURU
For photographing your Blue Springs Putāruru walk, timing is everything. As mentioned above, to avoid the crowds but also to avoid too much shadow.
Even though first thing in the morning is great, you’ll want to make sure that the sun is lighting up the space as this enhances the springs vibrant colours. My suggestion would to still arrive in the morning but wait till the sun is a little higher.
And, even if arriving later is unavoidable there are many open spaces where you’ll be able to capture the beautiful landscape without getting others in your images. The photos in this blog post are a great example of this as when we visited it was quiet busy. But, with patience and framing, we were able to get some lovely shots.
SUMMARY
In this post, we explored the Blue Springs Putāruru walk, from its location to trail tips and the best time to visit. This is one of my ultimate New Zealand destinations that offer breathtaking views and an opportunity to see a unique landscape so it’s well-worth adding to your itinerary.
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