Blue Pools Walk (Otago) Traditional Cache

This is the Blue Pools Walk, which has become world-renowned as a must-see highlight in this wilderness region.  Allow 50 minutes walk return.  A climb coming back but not difficult.  We saw someone in a small wheel chair managing the track but Geo is slightly off track and there are stairs up to the swing bridge.

It features a carefully maintained gravel path and boardwalks that wind through a native silver beech forest and lead to a swing bridge strung high above the Makarora River. The views back to the mountains of the Main Divide are absolutely breath-taking.

The track continues deep into the forest, with bellbird and tui calls echoing through the trees, to a series of crystal clear pools that have been carved out of the rocks by centuries of erosion.

The glacier-fed water in these deep pools is the colour of deep azure blue, and so clear that you can see right to the bottom, making the resident brown trout look like they are suspended in the air.

Park with everyone else then follow well defined track.  Cross swing bridge over the Makarora River.  Continue on main track to waypoint listed as turn here.  Turn off at trail head and continue slight track for a short distance to top of small knoll.  The cache is a small 200m systema container, with a log book, and pencil.  Room for small trackables.