The picture shown below is the Putaruru Blue Springs located in Putaruru, one of the rural towns in the Waikato Region in New Zealand. This natural spring boasts itself with clean and clear waters that it is claimed that 60 percent of bottled water in New Zealand are sourced from this place. The walkway, popularly known as Te Waihou Walkway, spans about 4.7 kilometres long. If you plan to take on the whole walkway, it will take an average of one hour and a half to walk it from end to end. You’ll experience walking along farmlands, crossing farm fences, chugging along rolling hills and walk across varying slopes of land.

But if you just want to see the magnificent clear waters as you go along the walkway, remember to take the entrance at Leslie Road, NOT Whites Road. Compared to Whites Road, this side does have lesser car park slots so you may end up parking alongside the road, especially during peak seasons. This shorter walk will take about 15mins and on that side too is where you will see the best views of the spring. Located in that side too is a wooden platform specifically designed for visitors to see the spring and take photos. There are also a number of wooden tables and chairs where tourists can have rest, or share a picnic.

When I first visited the place in 2015, swimming at the spring is still allowed, but in order to protect the place from further deterioration due to the increasing number of tourists visiting the area, swimming is now prohibited. Blue Springs is indeed one of the best free places to visit in New Zealand. For more information, check out https://www.waikatonz.com/experiences/walking-hiking-trails/blue-spring-te-waihou-walkway/