Rotorua's Essential 50: Day 19 - Hamurana Springs

Hamurana springs

Rotorua isn't short of natural wonders and Hamurana Spring is one of them.

With its crystal-clear water, surrounded by towering native trees and singing birdlife, the spring, which is the deepest natural freshwater spring in the North Island, is natural beauty at its finest _ and that's what our readers say makes it an essential.

A visit to Hamurana Springs with the family and dog in tow is a perfect way to spend a sunny summer's day, and it's free.

A walking track gives people of all ages the chance to take in the scenery and takes about 20 minutes to walk one way.

The track includes several picnic hotspots and a wooden viewing platform where kids can throw in a coin, make a wish and watch the spring water play with the coin.

Hamurana Spring produces an estimated 4 million litres of water per hour, which eventually runs via a stream into Lake Rotorua.

The water is said to travel from the Mamaku Plateau through underground aquifers and takes a staggering 70 years to reach the surface of the spring.

Children can enjoy spotting rainbow trout that swim through the stream because of its cool temperature or watch the birdlife in the Department of Conservation reserve that surrounds the stream. Hamurana Springs is just a 15 to 20 minute drive north-east of Rotorua and is located next to the Hamurana Golf Club.

The Rotorua Daily Post Essential 50 lists the city's must-see, must-do and must-try activities and experiences thanks to reader nominations. We'll be highlighting one every day over summer.