Te Waikoropupu Springs
Takaka
Your Nature Guide
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Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
Te Waikoropupu Springs
Approx 2 km return | 30-45 minutes return
Exceptional water clarity and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest spring. Look don’t touch! These waters are so pure even the skin oils of a human hand are considered polluting.
Pupu Springs (Te Waikoropupū Springs) is a short, interactive walk past historic gold working sites and a beautiful stream.
The Pupu Springs contains some of the clearest water recorded in the world - 63 metres horizontally.
A place of healing for Maori so respect and enjoy!
Walking Track
Access
From Takaka take SH60 towards Collingwood.
After about 4 km, just after crossing the Takaka River, turn left onto Pupu Valley Road.
The springs are well signposted on Pupu Springs Road, where there is a big parking area and toilets at the road end, 3.4 km from the SH 60.
Track
The track is exceptionally well maintained with bridges, boardwalks and plenty of metal. There’s an underwater viewing area so you can see just how far the clarity permits.
Geology
In 2017-18 a new study using the latest technology found the clarity of the water to give a visibility of 75m - up from 63m given 25 years ago. Over 1 million data points were used.
From deep in the limestone karst, the groundwater which has been in underground storage for several years, is eventually released at a balmy 11.7 degrees celsius. Flow rate varies between 5.6 and 24.2 cubic metres per second.
The spring is a karst resurgence and flows through Arthur Marble and then passes a through a basal grit of Motupipi Coal measures. This outcrops on the entrance road.
The ‘Main Spring’ is around 1.5 m wide and the ‘Dancing Sand Spring’ has several vents. The springs exhibit a twice daily fluctuation relating to the tides.
Flora
Few old podocarps grow on the alluvial sands of the area. Most vegetation in the area has been modified and is now a regenerating scrub of tea trees and broadleaves.
Polynesian History
Huriawa is known as the kaitiaki (guardian) of the springs. She was summoned by the ancestor Rakaihautu to protect the spring. This taniwha is both creator of waterways and caretaker. Local iwi consider these waters as sacred. They are used for blessings and healing.
European History
Takaka….Ta Kaka….The Caca…..Greek for dung or poo. And just nearby are the ‘Pupu’ springs - the clearest water in the world! Such is the play of language!
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Nelson/TasmanCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Well, that hasn’t happened to me before, 2 consecutive reviews 5 years apart.
Still a great place to visit. Disappointed with the dancing sands as we didn’t see it but perhaps they had an off day.
What I like about places like this is there is no entry fee unlike so many places in my country.
MF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(95,55,203)" /><path d="m 150 733 Q 149 151 -433 150 Q 149 149 150 -433 Q 151 149 733 150 Q 151 151 150 733 z" fill="rgb(241,212,123)" /><path d="m 150 530 Q 255 45 -230 150 Q 255 255 150 -230 Q 45 255 530 150 Q 45 45 150 530 z" fill="rgb(14,43,132)" /><path d="m 150 207 Q 244 56 93 150 Q 244 244 150 93 Q 56 244 207 150 Q 56 56 150 207 z" fill="rgb(160,200,52)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
08Oct18.
The walk is like many others but the springs were what we went for. Last visited in 2014 and still as good. Fascinating to watch the water welling up and breaking the surface. So clear. Good viewing platform. Check out the Dancing Sand spring.
The boards at the start of the walk are interesting too.
We remember there used to be spring water on tap in the picnic area but it appears no longer the case. A pity.
MF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(17,115,152)" /><path d="m 150 713 Q 245 55 -413 150 Q 245 245 150 -413 Q 55 245 713 150 Q 55 55 150 713 z" fill="rgb(148,64,6)" /><path d="m 150 485 Q 188 112 -185 150 Q 188 188 150 -185 Q 112 188 485 150 Q 112 112 150 485 z" fill="rgb(107,191,249)" /><path d="m 150 267 Q 249 51 33 150 Q 249 249 150 33 Q 51 249 267 150 Q 51 51 150 267 z" fill="rgb(238,140,103)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
New Zealand's most clear water spring.
It is a beautiful place with a tranquil surrounding.
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4.5/5
Largest spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Nice, easy walk (45 minutes), suitable for a buggy or wheelchair. Done it in the rain and was worth the detour. More impressive when the weather is good.
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4.0/5
Nice and easy walk, you can see everything underneath this clear water, it is gorgeous.
D![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(0,228,121)" /><path d="m 150 626 Q 273 27 -326 150 Q 273 273 150 -326 Q 27 273 626 150 Q 27 27 150 626 z" fill="rgb(142,14,231)" /><path d="m 150 446 Q 58 242 -146 150 Q 58 58 150 -146 Q 242 58 446 150 Q 242 242 150 446 z" fill="rgb(113,241,24)" /><path d="m 150 315 Q 290 10 -15 150 Q 290 290 150 -15 Q 10 290 315 150 Q 10 10 150 315 z" fill="rgb(255,27,134)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Best to see when sunny, the water is so clear, the walk is not even 20 minutes but you can stay there and take pictures for such a long time and the Maori history gives it a special feeling!
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4.5/5
Very clean and blue water.
And with the sunny weather it was even more beautiful.
ER![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(170,112,225)" /><path d="m 150 726 Q 59 241 -426 150 Q 59 59 150 -426 Q 241 59 726 150 Q 241 241 150 726 z" fill="rgb(198,27,123)" /><path d="m 150 413 Q 53 247 -113 150 Q 53 53 150 -113 Q 247 53 413 150 Q 247 247 150 413 z" fill="rgb(57,228,132)" /><path d="m 150 192 Q 96 204 108 150 Q 96 96 150 108 Q 204 96 192 150 Q 204 204 150 192 z" fill="rgb(85,143,30)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
It is such a nice walk through the bush; the water is so pure and clear.
We would never see anything comparative to that before. It is just amazing and also for free.
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5.0/5
Stunning!!
Only a short walk to the Springs. We arrived in the evening on an overcast day and the Springs did not disappoint. Kids loved it as well!
GT![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(224,74,89)" /><path d="m 150 680 Q 167 133 -380 150 Q 167 167 150 -380 Q 133 167 680 150 Q 133 133 150 680 z" fill="rgb(197,2,16)" /><path d="m 150 456 Q 203 97 -156 150 Q 203 203 150 -156 Q 97 203 456 150 Q 97 97 150 456 z" fill="rgb(58,253,239)" /><path d="m 150 136 Q 232 68 164 150 Q 232 232 150 164 Q 68 232 136 150 Q 68 68 150 136 z" fill="rgb(31,181,166)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
It is such a wonderful place and spiritual place, because the water is perfectly clear and there is a beautiful forest.
YM![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(96,109,174)" /><path d="m 150 537 Q 172 128 -237 150 Q 172 172 150 -237 Q 128 172 537 150 Q 128 128 150 537 z" fill="rgb(12,67,205)" /><path d="m 150 480 Q 200 100 -180 150 Q 200 200 150 -180 Q 100 200 480 150 Q 100 100 150 480 z" fill="rgb(243,188,50)" /><path d="m 150 353 Q 50 250 -53 150 Q 50 50 150 -53 Q 250 50 353 150 Q 250 250 150 353 z" fill="rgb(159,146,81)" /></svg>)
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2.5/5
Lovely track but the Springs were not as spectacular as expected.
But if you are in Takaka then I would do them.
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(185,217,120)" /><path d="m 150 643 Q 203 97 -343 150 Q 203 203 150 -343 Q 97 203 643 150 Q 97 97 150 643 z" fill="rgb(100,95,200)" /><path d="m 150 369 Q 275 25 -69 150 Q 275 275 150 -69 Q 25 275 369 150 Q 25 25 150 369 z" fill="rgb(155,160,55)" /><path d="m 150 229 Q 280 20 71 150 Q 280 280 150 71 Q 20 280 229 150 Q 20 20 150 229 z" fill="rgb(70,38,135)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Well, that hasn’t happened to me before, 2 consecutive reviews 5 years apart.
Still a great place to visit. Disappointed with the dancing sands as we didn’t see it but perhaps they had an off day.
What I like about places like this is there is no entry fee unlike so many places in my country.
MF -
5.0/5
08Oct18.
The walk is like many others but the springs were what we went for. Last visited in 2014 and still as good. Fascinating to watch the water welling up and breaking the surface. So clear. Good viewing platform. Check out the Dancing Sand spring.
The boards at the start of the walk are interesting too.
We remember there used to be spring water on tap in the picnic area but it appears no longer the case. A pity.
MF -
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4.5/5
Largest spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Nice, easy walk (45 minutes), suitable for a buggy or wheelchair. Done it in the rain and was worth the detour. More impressive when the weather is good.
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4.0/5
Nice and easy walk, you can see everything underneath this clear water, it is gorgeous.
D -
4.5/5
New Zealand's most clear water spring.
It is a beautiful place with a tranquil surrounding.
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5.0/5
Best to see when sunny, the water is so clear, the walk is not even 20 minutes but you can stay there and take pictures for such a long time and the Maori history gives it a special feeling!
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4.5/5
It is such a nice walk through the bush; the water is so pure and clear.
We would never see anything comparative to that before. It is just amazing and also for free.
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5.0/5
Stunning!!
Only a short walk to the Springs. We arrived in the evening on an overcast day and the Springs did not disappoint. Kids loved it as well!
GT -
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4.5/5
Very clean and blue water.
And with the sunny weather it was even more beautiful.
ER -
2.5/5
Lovely track but the Springs were not as spectacular as expected.
But if you are in Takaka then I would do them.
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5.0/5
It is such a wonderful place and spiritual place, because the water is perfectly clear and there is a beautiful forest.
YM -
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5.0/5
Beautiful to see the water pumping up out of the ground, crystal clear water, a nice stop when passing by.
LN![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(10,84,162)" /><path d="m 150 548 Q 168 132 -248 150 Q 168 168 150 -248 Q 132 168 548 150 Q 132 132 150 548 z" fill="rgb(24,209,25)" /><path d="m 150 503 Q 148 152 -203 150 Q 148 148 150 -203 Q 152 148 503 150 Q 152 152 150 503 z" fill="rgb(231,46,230)" /><path d="m 150 322 Q 129 171 -22 150 Q 129 129 150 -22 Q 171 129 322 150 Q 171 171 150 322 z" fill="rgb(245,171,93)" /></svg>)
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