Pros & cons
PROS
- Short, flat 20–30 minute return walk with two swing bridges
- Vivid, crystal‑clear glacial water at the Blue–Makarora confluence
CONS
- Very popular; small car park and bridge limits can mean waits
- After heavy rain the color turns milky and less blue
Overview
A quick, pretty forest stroll delivers you to the famous Blue Pools, where the Blue River meets the Makarora in a deep, glassy channel. The intense color comes from light scattering in very cold, glacially influenced water—on clear days it’s luminous; after heavy rain it can look greener or cloudy.
The Walk
It’s an easy, mostly flat track through mature beech/podocarp forest (about 1.5 km return; 20–30 minutes). You’ll cross a swing bridge over the Makarora, then follow boardwalk to a second swing bridge that serves as the main viewing platform. Bridge capacity is limited, so brief queues are normal in peak season. A short side path reaches the river’s edge; the rocks can be slippery.
What You’ll See & Do
From the bridge you’ll peer into startlingly clear, blue water—trout are often visible below. Some visitors swim or jump, but the water is extremely cold (around 6–7°C) and currents exist; always check depth and for rocks first. Fishing at the pools is not permitted.
Wildlife
Listen for mohua/yellowhead in the canopy and common South Island forest birds like bellbird, fantail, robin, tomtit, rifleman, kererū, and yellow‑crowned parakeet. Blue ducks and paradise shelducks inhabit river valleys nearby. Watch quietly and don’t feed wildlife.
Logistics
The signed car park sits right off State Highway 6 (Haast Pass/Makarora Road), opposite Cameron Flat Campsite. Toilets are at the Blue Pools car park; there are none along the track. Drone use on public conservation land requires a DOC permit. If you want to keep walking, continue on the Blue–Young Link Track; other local routes include the Blue Valley Track to Camp Flat.
Nearby Add‑Ons
Thunder Creek Falls and Fantail Falls are quick, worthwhile stops north along the highway. Cameron Flat Campsite is across the road; lodging clusters in Makarora, Wānaka, and Haast.
Best Time to Visit
Year‑round. For those turquoise tones, aim for clear weather and avoid visiting right after heavy rain. Go early or late in the day for easier parking and thinner crowds; summer is the busiest, especially midday.
Where it is
-44.1623, 169.2697Tips for Blue Pools
- 01Go early or late in the day to avoid car park and bridge queues.
- 02For the bluest water, pick a clear day and skip visits right after heavy rain.
- 03If you swim or jump, expect 6–7°C water and check depth, rocks, and currents first.
- 04Want more than a quick look? Continue on the Blue–Young Link Track.
- 05Drones need a DOC permit, and fishing at the pools is not allowed.
Amenities
Near Blue Pools
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayYoung River TrackQuiet Blue Pools add-on to the Young River mouth—easy, scenic, useful.Easy · 4.3 mi · 2 hr
0 mi awayBlue River Swing Bridge (Blue Pools)Shaky vantage over glacier‑blue water in a beech forestParking · Restroom
0.9 mi awayCameron Flat CampsiteBasic riverside camp with big mountain views near Blue PoolsCampground · Restroom
0.9 mi awayBlue Pools TrackShort forest stroll to vivid blue pools and swing-bridge viewsEasy · 1.9 mi · 1 hr
0.9 mi awayMakarora River Swing BridgeHigh, swaying vantage over the Makarora’s glacier-blue waterParking · Restroom
1.8 mi awayCameron LookoutShort forest climb to a quiet lookout over Cameron CreekTrailhead · Parking
7.7 mi awayWilkin Valley TrackBig-valley tramp to Top Forks with serious river crossingsChallenging · 18.6 mi · 12 hr
8.3 mi awayBrewster TrackShort, brutally steep climb to a hut with glacier viewsChallenging · 2 mi · 3.5 hr
