Blue Pools Track: Wanakas hidden Gem

The Blue Pools Track is one of the best short walks near Wanaka in Mount Aspiring National Park. This 3km return hiking trail draws in thousands of tourists every year for it’s family-friendly hiking track to views of incredibly blue glacier pools.

Two swing bridges are suspended across the Makarora and Blue Rivers which are feed from the mountain top glaciers, the alpine water from both rivers meet to create a pool of crystal blue water that looks like something out of a fairytale.

Blue Pools Track Information

Distance: 3km Return
Walking Time: 1.5hr
Difficulty: Easy

The blue pools track in Wanaka is a popular hike for all fitness abilities and is easily accessible almost all year round. Blue pools walking track is a flat walking trail that leads you from the large carpark, across two swing bridges, and ends at the bright blue glacier-fed pool. The track continues further across the bridge and links to the Blue-Young link track which leads you through dense forest to the mouth of Young River.

The Blue-Young link track is a 7km return trip that needs slightly more preparation than compared to the blue pools track. The blue pools walk is probably the shortest walking track with some of the best views, if you have small children or aren’t kitted up to go hiking then the Blue Pools walking track is one you need to sink your teeth into.

The blue pools get their name from the glacier water which feeds into the pool from both the Makarora River and Blue River, creating the bright blue colour you see all year round. Hidden within the Mt Aspiring National Park, the Blue Pools Tracks makes up one of many walking tracks free to use by locals and tourists. The track is one of the shortest and flattest in the region making it popular among all fitness types, groups, and individuals.

Is Blue Pools Worth Visiting?

Yes the Blue Pools track is absolutely worth visiting, I wouldn’t have written a whole article about it if it wasn’t. The Blue Pools track is easy to follow and requires no more than appropriate clothes for the current climate and a bottle of water. I do highly recommend taking a picnic and enjoying the blue pools from the river side.

Best Time to Visit Blue Pools Track

I recommend visiting the Blue Pools track on either side of tourist season. This track is so popular that you will find the carpark getting quite full rather early in the morning. The best way to explore these best short walks near Wanaka is to visit mid week and outside of the school holidays, so you can enjoy the views with fewer crowds.

About Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park sits within the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) and forms part of a world heritage site called Te Wahipounamu. Covering over 3,562 Square kilometres, Mt Aspiring National Park is popular for hikes, day trippers, mountaineers, and adventure seekers.
Popular hiking trails within Mt Aspiring National Park include easy tracks under an hour long, to several multi-night hikes where you can stay at DOC cabins along the way. More information about these south island hiking tracks, including Blue Pools Track, can be found on theDOC website. Including access points, length of trails, and any important alerts and weather warnings.

How to Get to Blue Pools Track

Each time I’ve visited Blue Pools track we have driven in a rental vehicle, however, if you’re looking for a guided tour check out www.Newzealand.com for the latest deals on guided tours throughout Aotearoa.

Wanaka to Blue Pools Track | 50 Minutes

Traveling from Wanaka to blue pools track you will need to drive north along State Highway 6 for around 49 minutes until you reach the small community of Makarora. Makarora boasts some basic accommodation, a petrol station, and a primary school. So if you’re wanting a packed lunch for the trip you need to do all your shopping in Wanaka. The carpark for Blue Pools Track is another 6-minute drive from Makarora and hard to miss. There is a large car park with plenty of parks available, but it always pays to set off early in case you happen to arrive on a busy day.

Queenstown to Blue Pools Track | 2 Hours

The drive from Queenstown to blue pools Wanaka track is slightly longer and will take you close to 2 hours to travel, it’s not impossible to do in a day but just means a full-day trip rather than what could be a half or quarter day from Wanaka. If you want to make the day trip from Queenstown to blue pools; take Crown Range Rd to Wanaka where you can jump on State Highway 6 northbound and simply follow the same directions as above.

For any National Parks in New Zealand always check the Department of Conservation website for access or for notifications of extreme weather events.

Best Time to Visit Blue Pools Track

The Blue Pools in Wanaka can be visited all year round with only minimal preparation involved. Just be sure to use your common sense by checking weather forecasts before you start your journey, and pack warm if you’re visiting in winter. If you want a chance to experience thick frost and the Blue Pools glacier water near its coldest it is best to visit Wanaka at the beginning of the winter. Swimming in the pools is only doable during summer unless you have a dire need to experience a natural ice bath.

Swimming is only permitted in the pool and not in any of the rivers, but watch out for the current as the water being forced down from the mountain ranges can have quite a force.

What Do I Need?

We were over-prepared for this walk during the start of winter. Wearing thermals, gloves, tramping boots, and a Swanndri each we looked as though we were beginning a 4-hour hike up one of the nearby mountains. We noticed a couple of people walking the track in jandals and shorts which I thought was slightly weird considering the ground was covered in a thick layer of frost for most of the day.

A bottle of water, warm clothes, sun protection, comfortable shoes, and a few snacks will be the perfect amount of preparation needed for Blue Pools Track, the trail is flat with a very slight gradient and very family-friendly, young or old.

Bring your swimwear along if you’re hiking the Blue Pools track in summer, the pools are great for swimming in if you don’t mind glacial temperatures. Just be wary of strong currents coming from the waterfalls and running from the rivers.

Swimming at Blue Pools Wanaka

Swimming in the Blue Pools is only doable during summer unless you have a dire need to experience a natural ice bath. There has recently been a path built that leads down to the rock bed below the bridge, so you can either experience the icy cold water with a slow descent or jump from the bridge and send a shock wave to your bones, although I’d assume that jumping from the bridge probably isn’t allowed!

Swimming is only permitted in the pool and not in any of the rivers. We don’t have man-eating water creatures in Aotearoa / New Zealand, so the only thing you will feel brush past your legs will either be a rainbow trout or a Taniwha.

Other Things to do in Wanaka

Besides some of the most incredible hikes, Wanaka has plenty more activities for you or your family to enjoy. Boat tours on lake Wanaka can go for a couple of hours to a half day exploring the waters and a small island in the middle of the lake, buggy tours on a nearby mountain bike trail and even salmon fishing at the local salmon farm where you can pick up some fresh fish. There are plenty of things to do in Wanaka whether rain or shine.

• Puzzling World
• Wanaka to Franz Josef Road trip
• Parasailing
• Lake Dunstan E-Bike ride
• Lake Wanaka Cruise

Wanaka to Franz Josef Road Trip

If you’re considering a Wanaka to Franz Josef road trip then I have the perfect itinerary for you. The route between Wanaka and Franz Josef has hidden gems all along the highway; from cascading waterfalls to winding road, amazing views and hiking the Franz Josef Glacier, you really won’t have a shortage of adventure.

The Department of Conservation website is the best place to visit if you’re wanting more walking tracks in Wanaka or the South Island. The Department of Conservation looks after and continually improve walking and hiking tracks around New Zealand which are government-owned, this way Kiwis and tourists can experience a little slice of paradise without going too far off the beaten track.

Best Short Walks Near Wanaka

If you haven’t packed for a multi day hike and being exposed to the elements then these 3 short walks near Wanaka will be right up your alley. Each trail takes no longer than a couple of hours to complete and elevation isn’t too much. You still need to wear good walking shoes but you can leave your hiking poles at home.

• Mount Iron Loop Track
• Lake Sylvan Track
• Diamond Lake
• Haast Pass Lookout

Whether you want a full day out, or a quick escape into the wilderness of Aotearoa / New Zealand; Blue Pools Track in Wanaka is one of the best opportunities to get the most out of nature with little effort involved. Follow Blue Pools up with a hike around Mt Cook and you will leave New Zealands South Island with some of the most picturesque memories you will be planning your next trip before you get on your return flight home.

Other Amazing Mount Aspiring National Park Walks

If you’re looking for more amazing Mount Aspiring National Park walks then look no further than this short list below. These 5 hikes require he appropriate gear and hiking experience to complete. All with varying levels of elevation and distance but all supplying the most incredible views across Mount Aspiring National Park.

• Rees Dart Track
• Routeburn Track
• Valley of the Trolls
• Rob Roy Glacier Track
• Sharks Tooth Peak

Hiking Hooker Valley Track, Mt Cook

Hooker Valley track is a 2.5-hour drive from Wanaka in the other direction, so it’s not one you can visit straight after hiking the Blue Pools track, but it is one worth mentioning because of the amazing scenery. Hooker Valley Track was my first true taste of hiking within mountain ranges.

Packing our car and bags full of items, so that if we were to get stuck in a snow blizzard, we could somehow maybe survive for a couple of hours. Hooker Valley Track at Mt Cook is the best hiking trail for anyone who is either inexperienced with hiking, or who doesn’t want to put in an exorbitant amount of effort into seeing the beauty that is Mt Cook.

Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealands tallest mountain which sits in the Southern Alps of New Zealand’ South Island. A popular destination for everyone; from experienced climbers to day walkers, the Mt Cook region has walks and hikes for everyone of any skill level.

Hooker Valley Track is one of the most popular walking trails thanks to it’s almost non-existent incline and layout which means it’s very unlikely to be affected by an avalanche. Visit Hooker Valley Track at either the very beginning or end of winter and you’ll experience the beauty of snow on the mountains above, and the crisp blue glacial water below while still having enough heat in the day to keep the heat in your fingertips and toes.