Blue Spring in Waikato New Zealand is an easy and very enjoyable walk following a beautiful river. I’ve never seen water like this. It’s extremely clear with green plants swaying underwater.
When I went to visit, I ended up starting at the wrong end of the walk and had it in my mind that it was 1.5 hours one way. I went charging off! Marched passed a seating area after a few photos and carried on, dodging other groups of walkers. Just after an hour, I realised I could hear the sound of a road again. That’s when I clicked. I’d just walked from carpark to carpark! I had already passed the Blue Spring.
Back tracking, I came across a map and finally realised that I’d actually started at a shortcut carpark, which is about a 15min walk to the Blue Springs. Great to know if you want a short walk!
It really is a lovely walk along a river which keeps changing personalities. From calm green, to dense black, to raging rapids. Parts are through farmland and through native bush.
I had heard a rumour that a business is wanting to start bottling the water. I really really hope this was just an internet rumour. The idea of foreign companies taking our resources and not giving back to New Zealand sits wrong with me. It’s a bit much that they have stopped locals swimming in the water, yet a company will take all the water and export it overseas. And no money will go back into the community.
So it might be worth visiting sooner rather than later – the Blue Springs might not be as beautiful in the future as they are now.