The Blue Pools in a nutshell
The Blue Pools are natural river pools in Mount Aspiring National Park in Otago, on New Zealand's South Island. You reach them by car along State Highway 6, the Haast Highway, about 10 km past the village of Makarora. A gravel track with two swing bridges leads from the car park to the water. How blue the pools look depends on recent rain.
This is an independent guide, not run by the Department of Conservation (DOC), a council or a tour company. It covers the Blue Pools Track, the waterfalls and viewpoints along the Haast Pass road, Makarora, Lake Hāwea and Wānaka, camping, weather, getting there and where to stay. Prices are in New Zealand dollars as listed in 2026, and they change.
How far is it to the Blue Pools?
Published driving times in good conditions. Roadworks can add waiting time.
| From | By car to the car park | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Makarora | 10 minutes | The car park is about 10 km along the road toward Haast |
| Wānaka | 1 hour 10 minutes | About 1 hour to Makarora first |
| Haast | 1 hour 10 minutes | Over the Haast Pass from the West Coast |
| Queenstown | – | About 2 hours to Makarora, then 10 minutes more |
Wānaka is the usual base for a day trip. Details for all routes are on the getting there page.
Our picks: Blue Pools tours
A day trip with stops at the pools, a one-way run over the Haast Pass and a flight, hike and jet boat from Makarora.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Scenic flight, hike and jet boat from Makarora
A scenic flight with a window seat, an unguided hike with a route briefing and a 30-minute jet boat ride back to Makarora. There is no guide on the hike.
Check availability →
One-way small-group trip over the Haast Pass to Franz Josef
Lunch, water and snacks are included, and the route runs past Lake Hawea, the Blue Pools, Thunder Creek Falls and Haast. The way back and accommodation are not included.
Check availability →
Blue Pools, Wilson Creek and Fantail Falls from Wanaka
Pickup in Wanaka and stops at the Blue Pools, Wilson Creek Canyon, Fantail Falls, the swing bridges and Haast Lookout. Meals are not included.
Check availability →Blue Pools tours and day trips
Guided walks from Wānaka, jet boats and scenic flights around Makarora, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit
Start with the track, then pick the stops you want on the way.
Blue Pools Track
Distance, swing bridges, season, sandflies and the rules.
Things to do near the Blue Pools
Twelve stops from Lake Hāwea to Ship Creek.
Tours compared
Fly, walk and jet boat, a Makarora jet boat and a guided day from Wānaka.
Haast Pass Highway
The 140 km road between Wānaka and Haast and what to expect.
Fantail Falls
A 200 m walk to a view across the Haast River.
Thunder Creek Falls
A 28 m fall seen from a viewing platform.
Roaring Billy Falls and Ship Creek
A 1 km forest walk and two short walks on the coast.
Places, camping and practical pages
Where to base yourself and how to plan the day.
Makarora
The last village before the pools, with a bush walk and Wills Valley.
Lake Hāwea
The Neck between the lakes and the Kidds Bush walk.
Wānaka
The usual starting point for a day trip to the pools.
Mount Aspiring National Park
Rob Roy, huts and the rules for drones and wildlife.
Camping near the pools
Cameron Flat, Pleasant Flat and freedom camping rules.
Weather
Rainfall in Makarora and Wānaka and what it means for your day.
Getting there
Queenstown to Wānaka, the drive to the pools and the bus north.
Where to stay
Wānaka, Makarora or Haast: which base suits your plans.
Good to know before you go
Corrections to what older guides and blogs still say.
The bridges are open again
DOC announced that the new Makarora swing bridge, the rebuilt Blue Pools bridge and a 160 m raised boardwalk would open to the public on 31 May 2025. The closure that began in 2023 is no longer in force.
Track details →No jumping from the bridges
DOC's rule is short: no jumping off swing bridges. Do not do it, and do not copy photos that show it.
Rules on the track →Roys Peak closes every spring
The track near Wānaka closes every year from 1 October to 10 November for lambing and reopens on 11 November.
Wānaka guide →Not every camp is open
Boundary Creek is on DOC's list of closed facilities. Davis Flat is a car park and the start of the Bridle Track, not a campsite. Cameron Flat and Pleasant Flat need an online booking.
Camping →The road was hit by slips in 2026
A storm closed State Highway 6 between Makarora and Lake Hāwea on 28 August 2026. Convoys followed, and roadworks continued into October. Check the NZTA journey planner before you leave.
Haast Pass Highway →Beyond the Haast Pass
North along the coast and elsewhere on the South Island.
The road over the pass ends at Haast on the West Coast. Farther north lie the glaciers, which have their own guide at Franz Josef Glacier. For Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Hooker Valley, see the Mount Cook guide. This site stays with the Blue Pools and the road to them.
More independent New Zealand guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place on the South Island.
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
Heli hikes, glacier walks and Lake Matheson on the West Coast.
Aoraki/Mount Cook
The Hooker Valley Track, Tasman Glacier, scenic flights and Lake Tekapo.
Milford Sound
Fiord cruises, scenic flights, the Milford Road and Te Anau.
Blue Pools: frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the Blue Pools?
No. DOC lists no booking for the Blue Pools Track, and no entry fee or opening hours are published. Parking is free. Camping nearby is different: Cameron Flat and Pleasant Flat must be booked online.
How long does the walk take?
The return walk is 3 km. DOC's current information says about 1 hour, and an older DOC brochure says 1 to 1½ hours. Allow more if you stop for photos on the bridges.
When is the best time to go?
DOC describes the track as fully usable from November to April, with strong sandflies possible. How blue the water looks depends on recent rain. See the weather page for rainfall figures.
Can I jump from the swing bridges?
No. DOC states plainly that jumping off swing bridges is not allowed. Take photos from the bridge and the river edge instead.
Is it a day trip from Wānaka or Queenstown?
From Wānaka it is about 1 hour 10 minutes each way, so a day trip is realistic if the road is clear. From Queenstown it is about 2 hours to Makarora plus 10 minutes. Read the getting there page first.
Is blue-pools.org the official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to DOC, Tourism New Zealand, any council, accommodation provider or tour operator. For the latest track and road status, check DOC and NZTA directly.