Blue Spring Putaruru: New Zealand’s Clearest Spring + Van- Deisel Adventure
Some road trips are glamorous. Others are frostbitten and caffeine-fuelled. This one was somewhere in between.
The Mission
Van-Diesel (my trusty VW Multivan) and I packed up for a overnight winter mission down to Putaruru to visit the famous Blue Spring that place you’ve probably seen online and assumed had some kind of Photoshop wizardry going on. Spoiler: it doesn’t. The water really is that blue. No editing, no AI trickery, it is fed by a natural spring that draws water from the Mamaku Plateau, which takes 50-100 years to filter through volcanic rock before surfacing like a scene from a fantasy novel.
The Cold Reality
I stayed the night at Opal Hot Springs Campsite in Okauia, about 30 minutes away. Yes, they have hot pools. No, I didn’t use them. Rolled in after dark and left again by 6am. No relaxing soak, no sunrise spa moment just me, Van-Diesel, and a very frosty windscreen. But credit where it’s due the van held its own. Toasty warm inside. Icebox outside.
The Short Walk
Pressed for time and in need of breakfast (and still defrosting), I opted for the short walk from the Whites Road entrance. Less than 10 minutes of flat track and boom you’re standing in front of otherworldly clear water so clear you can count trout scales. No need to do the full 4.7km trail from Leslie Road unless you’re feeling the need.
The Cultural Significance
The Blue Spring and Waihou River aren’t just stunning they’re sacred to Ngāti Raukawa, the local iwi. These waters were traditionally used for ceremonial cleansing and are considered taonga (treasures). The name Waihout translates to “new water”, and standing there, it really does feel untouched and ancient all at once.
So when you visit:
🚫 Don’t swim
🚫 Don’t fly drones
🚫 Don’t stomp through the river for your next viral reel
It’s a place to respect, not conquer.
My Notes:
If you’re heading down with a camera in tow (of course you are):
Go early, better light and fewer people
Bring a polariser, makes the underwater detail pop
Tripod helps if your hands are still frozen from the night before
Trout will definitely wander into your shot, uninvited but welcome
Need to Know Details
🎟 Free entry
🚻 Toilets at both ends
🐶 No dogs allowed
🅿️ Easy parking if you’re early
👟 Flat, beginner friendly track from Whites Road
🕶 Don’t skip the polariser (seriously)