The Blue Pools Track is a short, 1.5 km return walk in the Wānaka region, taking around an hour to complete. The path winds through lush native beech forest before arriving at the crystal-clear Makarora River and the famous Blue Pools. A swing bridge crosses the river gorge, offering stunning views on the way to the main viewing platform.

The water here is known for its striking blue colour, which contrasts beautifully with the rich greens of the surrounding beech and podocarp forest. The track is well-formed and easy to follow, with access from a clearly marked carpark just off the highway. It’s about 30 minutes each way to reach the pools.

📸 Photography tip: This photo was captured from the second swing bridge, where you can look down directly into the pools. I used a wide-angle lens, plus a polariser and graduated filter to cut glare and make the water’s colours pop.