Blue Spring is one of the purest water sources in the world! 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water comes from here. Starting from Auckland, search for “Blue Spring Leslie Road Carpark” on Google Maps, and it will take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach the parking lot of Blue Spring.
This place serves as New Zealand’s water source; the water is so clear that you can see the bottom. The water is adorned with floating water plants, and the trail is easy to walk on. It feels like stumbling upon a hidden paradise; the beauty seems surreal. Along the way, there is a stretch where you might feel like you are walking through a primordial forest.
Blue Spring – Things you need to know
Blue Spring has two entrances, North and South.
North Entrance: The round-trip hike takes about three hours. Located on Whites Road, follow Te Waihou Walkway along the stream, and you will arrive at Te Waihou (Whites Road) Car Park. From there, it’s about a 4.7-kilometer walk to Blue Spring Lookout, and parking is free.
South Entrance: The round-trip hike takes about 20 minutes. Located on Leslie Road, find Blue Spring Leslie Road Carpark, and you’ll reach Blue Spring after a few hundred meters.
Where does the water of the Blue Spring come from?
The spring water here comes from the Mamaku Plateau and goes through layers of filtration for 50-100 years before reaching the surface. As a result, the spring water is extremely pure, and clear, and displays a breathtaking blue colour. It flows at a rate of 42 cubic meters per minute, filling a 25-meter-long swimming pool with 6 lanes in just 12 minutes. Due to its underground journey, the water maintains a temperature of 11 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Notably, 60% of bottled water in New Zealand is sourced from Blue Spring!
Can you swim in the Blue Springs?
Blue Spring is genuinely pristine. Swimming is not allowed here as it is a protected area.
Additional information
Location: Leslie Road, Putaruru (The easiest way is to input the attraction’s name into Google Maps. We strongly recommend downloading the offline maps for both entry and exit routes. This way, in case of no signal, you won’t get lost!)
Parking: Free. The parking area is not very big, accommodating up to 10 cars. If you park on the roadside, try to keep close to the ditch as the road is narrow and prone to scratching.