New Zealand is home to so many spectacular blue rivers and lakes, yet the Blue Pools on the Haast Pass really stand out. They are both crystal clear and ice blue, a colour so incredible that it almost doesn’t look real.
However, how blue the water appears does come down to the right conditions, which we’ll go into in-depth in this post. We’re also sharing all our top tips for beating the crowds, photography and what it’s really like to swim in that glacial water!
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Blue Pools.
Things to know before visiting the Blue Pools
1. The Blue Pools can actually turn brown!
The most important thing to know about visiting the Blue Pools is that they can flood and turn brown after heavy rain.
If you’re planning to visit after significant rain, give the Haast Visitor Centre a call to see if they know whether the water is still blue. You can also look at recent posts on Instagram - but check with the person that posted that it’s not a ‘latergram’.
2. The pools can get very crowded but you can get round this
The pools can get extremely crowded and if - like us - that puts you off, then you’ll want to come early or late in the day.
We’ve heard about queues for taking photos on the bridge and that sort of thing, so we’ve only ever visited around sunrise and a little before sunset. Both times we did this, there were only a couple of other people there.
In most places sunrise and sunset provide the best light for photography, but with the Blue Pools it does depend on what you’re after, which brings us on to point three.
3. The time of day you visit affects the colour of the water
In the middle of the day is when the water will be its most vibrant shade of blue, but it’s also when the glare can be strongest (and of course the crowds at their biggest). This means on a sunny day the water will have light and dark patches which doesn’t look the best in photos.
On a sunny day to avoid the glare, you’ll need to go close to sunrise or sunset (preferably around 1.5 hours after sunrise and before sunset). This is when the valley that the blue pools are located in will be in shadow, and you have more even light and no harsh reflection.
The pools won’t be as blue as in the middle of the day, but it’s still a striking colour (all photos in this article are from sunrise or sunset).
We preferred the nice even light as well as the lack of crowds, so for us it was the perfect time to visit.
In terms of weather conditions, clear sunny days show off the blue colour the most, whilst cloudy overcast days slightly dull the colour (but provide even light which is advantageous in many ways for photography and means you can visit anytime of day).
If you’re uncertain, I’d recommend heading to the pools around sunrise and then waiting for the light to appear and then you will get a combination of very few people and the blue pools at their most vivid blue. The only downside to this strategy is that you’ll be spending a lot more time with the sandflies!
4. There are A LOT of sandflies
Prior to visiting the Blue Pools, we’d spent over three weeks on the West Coast and visited some places that are pretty intense on the sandfly front - we’re looking at you Hokitika Gorge and Monro Beach!
However, nowhere we’ve been to has come close to the sheer numbers at the Blue Pools and boy do they like to swarm! They even went for me in the water which is where I thought I’d finally escape them!
What you can’t see are the sandflies attacking Cat…..
You’ll want to bring some good repellant (we’d recommend Bushmans over OFF, or any spray with a high deet content) and cover up a bit if you’re planning on lingering for a while.
The sandflies are significantly reduced in winter though, so a visit in the cooler months will be much more pleasant on that front. Having said all of this, they’re not a reason to be put off, it’s such an exquisite spot and really is worth it.
5. The water is icy year round
The water in the pools is from glacier melt, so it’s a freezing spot for a dip even in summer. However, this is one swimming experience you don’t want to miss!
Channel your inner Wim Hof, take the plunge and I’m sure you won’t regret it! As long as you get swimming pretty quickly you will warm up, although in winter you might need a wetsuit!
I swam in the full shade in spring and after very tentatively getting in, it wasn’t toooo bad. If the sun was shining it would have been better, but I still loved going in. It was one of those experiences where it really makes you feel alive!
You can also jump from the bridge, although I didn’t personally have the guts to do it (always check the depth of the water before embarking on jumps like this)! Depending on the water level, there can also be a strong current so it’s hard to swim up the river, but fun to float back down if you do!
6. You will need a polariser to get good photos
The water in the pools can be very reflective. It’s worst in the middle of the day, but you’ll also get some reflections early and late too.
This only really matters if you’re really keen on getting good photos, but if that’s the case you will definitely need a polariser. Whilst it doesn’t get rid of all the glare, it makes a huge difference and helps show off the true blue of the water.
Without a polariser
With a polariser
7. You can’t fly a drone but you can still get an aerial like shot
Whilst drones are not allowed at the Blue Pools, you won’t need one as you can use the second swing bridge to get an aerial view over the water. There’s also a side trail off to the right of the bridge to get a semi high up view over the swing bridge itself.
Just before crossing the (second) bridge, you’ll see the obvious path. It’s a dirt trail which requires a bit of care, but it only takes a minute to walk to a point where you can get a nice view over the bridge and the water.
Whilst it’s not quite the same as being able to use a drone, it’s still pretty good and having masses of drones flying around the pool would definitely ruin it, so we’re certainly not complaining that you can’t use them!
8. You can camp one minute from the Blue Pools!
If you’re travelling in a camper or have a tent with you, you can get a run on all the visitors to the pools by camping just opposite the Blue Pools car park.
The Cameron Flat campsite is directly beside the main road, but the road becomes very quiet in the evening and overnight so it’s not really an issue and the scenery is fantastic - surrounded by all those glorious peaks.
The car park for the walk - the campsite is opposite here
The campsite has 30 non powered sites, toilets and water (which needs to be treated). You’ll need to book in advance year round, but it’s cheap to stay and an unbeatable location if you want to get to the pools super early. All the info you need to book is on the DOC website.
If camping isn’t your thing or you don’t have gear with you like we didn’t, you can also stay a 6 minute drive away in the village of Makarora. Here you’ll find a few different accomodation options, although stock up with food first as it can be limited.
9. The walk is really easy but it’s longer than it used to be!
If you’ve visited the Blue Pools before but not recently, you might not know that the walking track had to be re-routed to begin at a much larger car park (due to increased popularity)! There’s even room for coaches now!
The track clocks in at 3km return, with an elevation gain of 25m. As you can probably tell, that means it’s pretty flat, but it takes that little bit longer than it used to. The path is all well graded and either gravel or boardwalk, so you don’t need to worry about mud or tricky terrain.
For the most part it’s through shady forest, with the occasional bit of open track which is exposed to the sun.
After 1.3km you’ll come to the first swing bridge and then follow boardwalk for the next couple of hundred metres until you reach the second swing bridge (which is the famous one over the main part of the pools).
There are other longer walking tracks you can do in the area which are on our list for next time.
The Blue Valley would be my first pick because I’ve heard you can see colourful fungi and the forest is gorgeous and mossy!
10. It’s not the only blue water in the Haast area!
The Blue Pools are sensational and have a very unique water colour, but they aren’t the only places to see striking blue water in the area.
If you’re looking for other easy spots, then you’ll also find gorgeous blue rivers at both Fantail Falls and Roaring Billy Falls. Thunder Creek Falls has fab water colour too, although not quite as vivid.
Roaring Billy Falls in Haast
Thunder Creek Falls
If you have a bit of scrambling experience and the weather is in your favour you could try an off the beaten track adventure at somewhere like the secret waterfall close to Fantail Falls.
I stress that for this spot you need the right conditions and shouldn’t go alone because there is no set trail and few people know about it, so it’s not somewhere you’ll run into help if you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes you can swim in the blue pools near Haast. However, the water is incredibly cold, even in summer. It is very refreshing though.
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The walk to the Blue Pools is now 1.5km each way. This walk takes about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace in each direction.
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Like a lot of the lakes and rivers in New Zealand, the blue pools get their vivid colour from the rock flour in the glaciers that flow into the blue pools. This refracts the light to give the blue pools their distinctive deep blue colour.
Getting to the Blue Pools
The Blue Pools are located along the Haast Pass close to the village of Makarora (a 6 minute drive away). They are 70km and just under a 1 hour drive from Wanaka and around 10 minutes closer to Haast. The road is prone to slips and there are often roadworks, so you may need to factor in more time.
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