Te Waihou "The New Water"
 The history of the Waihou River, as a multi purpose focus for the people of the region, dates back to the time of the first human visitors. The river comes from as far up as the Ngatira Marae, which significantly marks the Eastern boundary of "Raukawa Ki Te Kaokaoroa o Patetere" and therefore the Northern boundary of the Ngati Raukawa.
It was a journeying place of King Te Wherowhero Tawhiao, the second Maori King of New Zealand, as it provided him with his main travelling route. The river gave him food and the flax was used for many purposes. Also, Kahupeka, a Tainui tupuna, set off with her son shortly after her husband's death to wander around the Central North Island. On her travels, the Upper Waihou River was one of the main rivers that her and her son crossed while travelling from Pirongia to Te Aroha, and again from Te Aroha to Whakamaru.
Moving on to later years, the Edmeades family settled and began to farm the land along the Upper Waihou River in 1938. At this stage the river area was heavily covered with fern and titree, which was eventually cleared. During these early days, war trenches were dug along the Upper Waihou River as a result of the war scare but, however, were covered in without ever being used.
Walking Track Information
The walkway is a distance of 4.7 kilometres, with an average walking time of 1½ hours (3 hours return). The terrain varies from easy walking to backcountry trekking with stile crossing. In some areas the track has been benched and steps constructed through the gorge area. Hazards such as waterfalls, electric fences and livestock may be encountered on this walkway.
Water Information
 The Waihou Stream is totally spring fed. Water from the Mamaku Plateau takes anywhere between 50-100 years to reach the Blue Spring Water flows from the Blue Spring at a rate of 42 cubic metres per minute (9240 gallons per minute). The water temperature of the Blue Spring is a constant 11 degrees celsius, come winter or summer.
The reason for the blue colour (and high visual clarity) of the Waihou River and its spring source is the high optical purity of the water. Pure water is intrinsically blue in hue because it absorbs red light leaving only blue and (some) green light to be transmitted to the observer's eye. Pure natural waters are blue to blue-green in colour because they lack light absorbing constituents. They also tend to be very clear because they lack light absorbing particles. Both particles and light-absorbing matter are efficiently removed during the long residence time of spring water while in aquifers.
Experience and Enjoy Te Waihou
- Take a visit to the internationally acclaimed Blue Spring.
- Experience the coolness of water that has been underground between 50 - 100 years.
- Walk through the areas of restoration and regeneration of wetland and native plantings.
- Learn about the history and heritage of Te Waihou.
- Enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfalls.
- Watch as the water flow changes from tranquil to pumping action in the gorge area.
- Be amazed at the intensity of the water colour.
- Catch or view one of the many trout.
- Gentle easy walking through rolling pastoral land.
- Mix fitness with pleasure by walking one of New Zealand's millennium projects a community based project in the South Waikato District.
How do I get there
Linking State Highways 1 and 5 in the South Waikato District is Whites Road. Te Waihou Walkway is situated off Whites Road with upstream access from Leslie Road, Putaruru.
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