Nestled among mature beech and podocarp forest, these pools of deep, clear water flowing into the Makarora River offer a moment of tranquillity.
Stroll through beech/tawhero forest to a swing bridge that crosses the Makarora River. Follow the boardwalk to a viewing platform over the Blue Pools then cross the Blue Pools bridge for great views up the river gorge. Along the way look out for large trout feeding in the pools and listen for the threatened yellowhead/mohua, which can often be heard in the canopy. A 3km return and about 1 hour duration. There’s a limit to the number of people allowed on the swing bridges at any one time – be prepared to wait at each end if the maximum has been reached.
