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Te Waihou blue spring River Walkway

 

We walked from Leslie Road car park and got the loop track and returned back

 

 

Felix, the  organiser, had a brief introduction before departure

 

 

The walkway follows a generally easy grade

 

 

Shortly we were attracted by the beautiful scene

 

 

We then arrived at a bridge to cross the river

 

 

impressive scenes viewed from the bridge

 

 

crystal clear water with water plants swinging in the water

 

 

We walked generally along the river

 

 

Arrived at the famous Blue Spring

The Waihou Stream is totally spring fed.  Water from the Mamaku Plateau takes anywhere between 50-100 years to reach the Blue Spring. The Blue Spring is internationally acclaimed. Its clear, blue-green water flows from the spring  at a rate of 42 cubic metres per minute (9240 gallons per minute), or <b>filling a 6 lane (25 metre) swimming pool in just over 12 minutes!

 

 

Pump station - 67% of New Zealand's bottled water comes from the Blue spring. The water is sold in bottled form around New Zealand and supplies the town of Putaruru without treatment

 

 

The river water is clear and pure, with an intense blue colour

 

 

Both particles and light-absorbing matter are efficiently removed during the long residence time, 50 -100 years, of water from long distance of the Mamaku Plateau.  This is the reason for the blue colour and high visual clarity of the Waihou River.
很難想像 Blue Spring 的水 是經過地下層長達百年的過濾 也就是說現在從 Blue Spring 取得的水是長達百年從遠處的 MamakuPlateau 滲入地下的水 真是彌足珍貴啊!

 

 

The picturesque and totally spring fed Waihou River is beautiful!

 

 

the swinging water plants add to the excitement.

 

 

We had our lunch at this picturesque scenery.

 

 

group photo

 

 

The walkway ranges from easy walking to steeper areas in places with stiles and steps, with boardwalk constructed through wetland areas

 

 

a picturesque scenery - from a viewing platform

 

 

 

Walking along the walkway, we often  pleasantly surprised the stunning scenery

 

 

The river's mood changes as we walk along the walkway, from clear and tranquil in the wider sections to white and noisy in the gorge area

 

 

turbulent walter flow

 

 

trout are plentiful

 

 

An additional 0.5 km loop track gives access to the northern bank via two footbridges and offers views over a stunning area of the river

 

 

fishing trout