Putaruru is a small South Waikato town about 45 minutes south of Hamilton on State Highway 1. Most people pass through on the way somewhere else, which is a shame because it has one genuinely outstanding walk on its doorstep. The Blue Spring on the Te Waihou Walkway is one of the most photographed spots in the Waikato, and rightly so. The water is extraordinary.
There’s also the Jim Barnett Reserve just out of town, and the Arapuni Suspension Bridge about 20 minutes drive away if you want to stretch the day out further.
Getting There
Putaruru is on SH1 between Hamilton and Tokoroa, about 45 minutes from Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga and Taupo. It’s well placed for a stop on a road trip through the central North Island. The Blue Spring carparks are about 5km from the town centre on Whites Road and Leslie Road. There’s no public transport from town to the walk.
Walks in Putaruru
Arapuni Suspension Bridge
Blue Spring Putāruru: Te Waihou Walkway Guide
