Te Waihou Walkway
Frequently Asked Questions
Te Waihou Walkway
How long is the walkway?
The walkway is 4.7 kilometres one way and takes about 1 hours one way or three hours return to walk.
Is it open now?
Te Waihou Walkway is open all year. Currently the Walkway is only accesible from the Whites Road end. The Leslie Road end is closed due to rockfall.
Are you allowed to picnic?
Yes, you can take a picnic as long as rubbish is taken away with you or disposed of appropriately in the few bins provided. Do not litter on Te Waihou Walkway.
Can alcohol be consumed on Te Waihou?
Alcohol consumption is discouraged, but can't currently be prohibited. In order to prohibit alcohol we would need to include Te Waihou in our Public Places Bylaw as a prohibited alcohol consumption area; and then of course there is the question of how to regulate, monitor and enforce.
Is swimming allowed on Te Waihou?
Swimming is permitted at the Whites Road end carpark and along Te Waihou at various points. People are cautioned against causing damage to the banks of the river. Swimming is discouraged at the Blue Spring and nearby environment itself as swimming has already caused significant damage to the vegetation, particularly marginal river bank plantings that is breeding and feeding habitat for fish species.
Can I take my dog?
No, dogs are not allowed on the Te Waihou Walkway because of the proximity to stock on private land, dog waste not being picked up by some users and danger to wildlife in the area.
Are there toilets in Te Waihou?
Yes, there are four toilets. One at Whites Road carpark, two along the track and one at the Blue Spring. This toilet is still open for use.
Are you allowed to camp there?
No camping is allowed anywhere along Te Waihou Walkway nor in the parking lots at Leslie Road and Whites Road. The Whites Road parking area is managed by the New Zealand Transport Agency and does not allow for overnight camping.
Is there a bus service from Putāruru Township to take you to Te Waihou?
No
Is the walkway wheelchair/pushchair friendly?
Parts of the walkway has steeper tracks and some parts are on gravel. Some of these parts are not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Gates at both ends of the walkway mean wheelchair and pushchair access is not recommended. However, if needing access from the Leslie Road entrance please contact the Parks and Liaison Officer prior to your visit on 027 222 4125 to make arrangements to pick up the gate key from the Putāruru Council Office
How do I get to Te Waihou?
The main entrance at Whites Road (called State Highway 28) which can be accessed off State Highway 1 or State Highway 5. See map.
Can we use kayaks on the river?
Kayaking is not prohibited, but access is difficult.
What is the cultural significance of the Blue Spring?
The Blue Spring is a natural taonga (treasure) formed through the special and delicate merger of geology, ecology, freshwater biology and geography, over many hundreds of thousands of years.
Is fishing permitted?
Yes, but a fishing licence is required. These can be acquired the district i-SITEs in Tīrau and Tokoroa or from the Putāruru Information Centre.
Blue Spring
Can I swim there?
Swimming at the Blue Spring itself and immediately upstream of the Spring is discouraged, but people are permitted to swim at the Whites Road end of the walkway.
Why is swimming discouraged at the Blue Spring?
Swimming in the Blue Spring area has damaged the environment. The lack of marginal plants along the river bank dramatically reduces the habitats for native fish.
If I saw someone swimming in the spring can I report this?
Yes, you can report it to Council on 07 885 0340 or online here. We capture all that information however at this stage Council can't ban or prohibit swimming, nor can we fine people for swimming.
Which end is the Blue Spring?
The Blue Spring is about 800 metres along Te Waihou Walkway from the Leslie Road end. The Spring is in the round alcove directly across from the viewing platform. The Spring itself is about eight metres down in the river bed. Currently the short walk option from the Leslie Road end is not accessible due to rockfall. If you want to visit the Blue Spring it is accessible ONLY from the Whites Road end and is a 4.7km walk (one way), 9.4km round trip.
How old is the water that flows from the Blue Spring?
The water that comes from the Blue Spring flows from the Kaimais via the Mamaku Plateau. It takes anywhere from 50 to 100 years to reach the Blue Spring from its source.
Why is the water so blue?
The beautiful clear blue-green of the Blue Spring and Te Waihou is due to its purity as particles are removed during its journey through underground acquifers.
How much volume comes out?
Water flows from the spring at a rate of 700 litres per second.
Why is it so cold?
It's been underground for between 50 and 100 years.
Can we drive in to the Blue Spring?
The gate at the Leslie Road end is locked to vehicle access by the public. Sometimes vehicles will be seen on the Leslie Road access way however these are Council or Council contractor vehicles as we service our water pump station and maintain the plantings and service the toilet in the area. Other vehicles would potentially be the landowner as Te Waihou Walkway is partially on private property.
Currently the Leslie Road end is closed due to rockfall.
Water Supply
What is in the shed at the Blue Spring?
The ultra-violet disinfection system is housed in the shed. Urban household water supply from the Blue Spring is treated to meet the strict drinking water standards in NZ. Council is confident that the water supply from the Blue Spring is safe for human consumption.
Where does water from the Blue Spring go?
Water from the Blue Spring supplies approximately half of the township of Putāruru and water bottlers.
How often and why does Council sample the water?
We sample the water every four days at the headworks to ensure the absence of e.Coli and other chloroforms to ensure the supply meets the Drinking Water Standards. Further sampling is conducted every eight days in the reticulation system. We sample for pH and turbidity every two to three days. We sample for cryptosporidium and giardia twice a year.
Water Bottlers
What arrangement does Council have with the water bottlers?
Council has Water Supply Agreements with each of the bottlers, which allows each of the bottles to take a certain volume of water from Councils supply each day.
What do the water bottlers pay?
They pay $1.25 per m3 as per the fees and charges.
Why can't Council make the water bottlers pay more?
Council treats all industry the same that use water from Council's supply, whether the water is used for wood treatment, concrete making or making cups of coffee.
Can Council stop the water bottlers from taking water from the Blue Spring?
Bottlers do not take water from the Blue Spring. Council takes water from the Blue Spring under a resource consent with Waikato Regional Council and water is supplied to bottlers under a legal agreement. Half of the Putāruru township is supplied with water from this source. The bottlers are only three properties that are supplied from this source.