The water
You can see the bottom.
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Blue Pools are clear pools on the Blue River near Haast Pass, in Mount Aspiring National Park in New Zealand's South Island. A short walking track leads to them from State Highway 6 between Wanaka and the West Coast, and they are one of the best-known stops on that road. The water's clear blue colour comes from its great purity and the light reflecting off the gravel bed, as the river runs down from the nearby glacial mountains. The track passes through thick beech forest hung with moss and ferns, then crosses two swing bridges over the Makarora River and the pools. You see turquoise-blue water so clear you can see the gravel on the bottom, edged by white shingle banks and thick green trees, with high mountains behind. From the swing bridge the pools look deep under the calm water, and the sky is mirrored on the surface. It is about 61 km from Wanaka in a straight line, and the track takes about 30 minutes each way. The water is very cold all year, and watch out for biting sandflies.
You can see the bottom.
Over the pools.
Moss and ferns.
Haast Pass, Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
Because it is so pure and light reflects off the gravel bed.
The water is very cold all year.