The Blue Pools are located approximately an hour from Wanaka, driving towards Haast. This short, easy walk through the mature beech and podocarp forest leads to the Blue Pools, where the clear water flows into the Makarora River.
The track is a very pleasant 3km loop, an easy walk on a well-maintained track, across two swing bridges to the glacier-fed clear pools. Sorry, no dogs allowed. The pools were more green than blue the day we were there as it was a cloudy day, but the water was still so clear, I will add some blue water photos next time we go there… hopefully.
GATES OF HAAST
From the blue pools, 18.7km towards Haast you will come to the Gates of Haast. The bridge spans a gorge on the Haast River in Mount Aspiring National Park in the South Island of New Zealand. The Gates of Haast has sheer rock cliffs above a steep cascade in the Haast River. It is 56 km from here to the township of Haast.
The narrow bridge over the Haast River at the Gates of Haast.
There is plenty of parking so you can wander around and can take photos.
Looking back at the bridge and the same person standing on the rocks in the distance. I was pleased that the person was standing there, as it provided a sense of scale for the rocks.
Looking down the valley from near the Pleasant Flat campsite.
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