"North Island Blue Spring: The Perfect Guide to Getting Up Close and Personal with Pure Blue"
Here is a guide to visiting Blue Spring on the North Island:
Best time to visit
• All year round: Blue Spring is open all year round, and due to its unique natural landscape, each season has its own charm. Summer is sunny and perfect for hiking and enjoying the natural scenery; winter may be relatively monotonous in color, but you can still enjoy the tranquil beauty of Blue Spring.
Transportation
• Self-drive: From Auckland, the journey is about 200 km, with two routes to choose from, both of which are about the same distance and time. Blue Spring is located at the southern end of the Te Waihou Walkway, and most visitors can drive there.
• Public transportation: For non-self-driving visitors, you can use a charter service, which is relatively safe and worry-free.
Ticket information
• Free admission: Blue Spring is a free attraction, and visitors can visit at any time.
Attraction features
• Extremely pure spring water: The spring water of Blue Spring comes from the Mamaku Plateau and is filtered through layers for 50-100 years before reaching the surface, making it extremely pure and clear, with a breathtaking blue color. 70% of New Zealand's bottled water comes from here.
• Rich hiking trails: The Blue Spring hike takes about an hour and a half one way, starting at Whites Road (State Highway 28) near Putaruru, or from Leslie Road, which is a shorter walk, taking only 15 minutes one way to reach Blue Spring. The trail is easy and flat, passing through wetlands and pastures, and you will also see small waterfalls, native forests, and other natural scenery.
• Observation deck: At the LOOK OUT observation deck at Blue Spring, you can get a close-up view of the most charming scenery of Blue Spring, with dense aquatic plants in the river, showing thousands of colors under the sunlight.
Itinerary planning
• Short trip: If you are short on time, you can enter from the Leslie Road entrance, which takes only 15 minutes one way to reach Blue Spring, and then enjoy the beauty of Blue Spring at the observation deck.
• Full hike: If you have plenty of time and love hiking, it is recommended to start from the north entrance and walk the entire 5 km Blue Spring trail, where you can enjoy more natural scenery along the way.
Notes
• Clothing: It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for outdoor activities. If you plan to go into the water, remember to bring a swimsuit and sunscreen.
• Environmental protection: During your visit, please follow the park's rules, do not litter, and protect the natural environment. Also, respect the wildlife and do not disturb their natural life.
• No swimming: Although the water quality of Blue Spring is very pure, in order to protect the natural ecology of Blue Spring, the government has banned swimming in Blue Spring.
I hope this guide will help you better plan your trip to Blue Spring on the North Island and enjoy this pure natural beauty.