Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Springs is located in South Waikato near Putaruru. It’s almost two hours drive from Whakatāne, so we decided to stay the night in Putaruru as I thought it would be too long for Mum and Dad as a day trip. You know, I don’t even remember having ever passed through Putaruru, but I did discover that they had a cheese factory called Over The Moon Dairy & Cafe. Cheese and hikes...man life’s good!

The start of Te Waihou Walkway is at the Whites Road car park along SH 5. The walk to the Blue Springs is 4.5km and takes approx. 1.5 hours each way depending on your pace. Unfortunately part of the walkway was closed due to forestry activities when we were there, so we walked the track as far as we could then turned around. You can also take the shortcut and walk from the Leslie Road car park, this one is much smaller and we ended up parking on the side of the road.

There are two long-drop toilets along the walkway - one at the car park and another about halfway. There are also toilets at the main viewing area at the Blue Springs.

The track is mostly flat, mixed with a few small inclines that takes you through farmland and bush. We saw plenty of sheep grazing as well as Pukeko hopping in the reeds. Even though they didn’t seem particularly scared of the constant stream of people, they also weren’t curious enough to come toward us to say hello.

As the track takes you further upstream, you’ll come across a beautiful boardwalk loop. Take your time here, it’s really peaceful and much quieter than the Blue Springs end. Did you know that the spring is fed from the Mamaku Plateau and takes 100 years to filter through? That’s why the water here is so pure and supplies 60% of New Zealand’s bottled water.

We must have walked about 3.5km along the walkway before we had to turn around, which took a couple of hours to return. The car park was packed by the time we got back, and it was even busier at the Leslie Road car park. Cars were parked on both sides of the road and there were more to come.

Being a public holiday, it was a popular hangout for people of all ages. The track is solid underfoot and suitable for prams and wheelchairs, at least around the main viewing areas and boardwalks. Make sure to stop and read the poem by Linda Margaret Pearce - it’s on the boulders by the giant Redwoods.

Dust if you must but there’s not much time
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb
music to hear and books to read
friends to cherish and life to lead...

Poem “Dust If You Must’ by Linda Margaret Peace

I could have packed this blog post with a whole lot more photos, but Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Springs is so much better in person. It’s an easy track that’s family friendly, even with younger children. If you’re passing through Putaruru, make sure to check out Te Waihou walkway and Blue Springs - you won’t be disappointed!

fivefootronna is Ronna Grace Funtelar - a thirtyish adventurer, graphic designer and writer. A woman with a curious mind who lives for hiking mountains, outdoor adventures and eating pizza. She has a unique brand of optimism that is a combination of her great enthusiasm for life and cups of coffee during the day.