Such a lovely place to visit with the most picturesque stream, crystal clear and those who have volunteered their skills and labour have done an amazing job. It's so pretty and something we kiwis can be proud of. Clean and Green.
Such a lovely place to visit with the most picturesque stream, crystal clear and those who have volunteered their skills and labour have done an amazing job. It's so pretty and something we kiwis can be proud of. Clean and Green.
Yes, we understand this used to be free. However, the property was recently restored to the Maori tribe whose land it used to be. They now maintain it and rightly charge for entry. For those who say it's a 20 minute walk, I'd say they missed the magic of the place and didn't stop to enjoy the surroundings or learn much about what they were experiencing. The redwood forest feels like being in a cathedral, the dancing sands spring is magical, the clear water of the stream is amazing, bird life abounds. It was one of the favorite places we visited in Rotorua - happy to let others frequent the commercialized and higher cost places that mix nature with water rides, etc.
Hamurama Springs really is a hidden gem that a group of passionate people have made their mission to enhance and protect the springs and surrounding area for others to use and enjoy.
Enter the beautiful forest across the river and you're in a different world of huge redwoods and soft forest floor leading to grassy picnic areas along the way. The springs we saw coming up out of spots in and adjacent to the river were unique and different to each other. One coming up from a deep jade green rocky hole, another trickling from a steamy overflow into the shallow river bed causing the 'dancing sands' effect.
Kani (at the gate) explained the history of the area to us before and after our walk. I'm so glad we decided to visit this tranquil, beautiful place with the clearest water i've ever seen and very happy ducks and swans and other water life abundant. Picnics and sitting areas are available in some areas of the walk.
I realise the area has been expensive to set up and maintain, but perhaps a bit cheaper price would encourage more people to visit.
Lovely walk along the river amongst the beautiful Redwoods with interesting spring at the top of the walk. Until recently it has been free now rather expensive for what it offers.
We stupidly thought you could swim at the Hamurana Springs (we thought that it was a hot spring as we’d heard so much about hot springs in Rotarua). Halfway around the nature walk, we realised there was a reason no one else was carrying towels!
I would give it 5/5 for natural beauty (including massive redwood trees and clear water) but probably 1.5/5 for value for money. It’s $18 per adult so was an expensive short walk. I love nature but next time would just do a free walk in the Redwood Forest in Rotarua.
I Found this place accidentally when looking up free places to go in NZ. I Arrived only to see a fee was applicable, so it was a let down as from the main gate it did not look money worthy.... BUT, then the lady at the gate explained what the walk entails and I'm so glad I paid as this is one of the most beautiful places we saw in the North Island.
I think it was 50 for 2 adults and 2 kids.
The spring water is amazingly blue, the redwoods are magnificent (bigger than the ones we saw at the tree top walk), the spring it's self was awesome and if you bring a bottle you can collect your own spring water further up the trail, swans and ducks were all around.
The fact it I think it is underadvertised meant we got fantastic photos without any other tourists in the background.
I was looking for nature experiences in NZ and this did not let me down, I just have no idea why i never saw it in any travel guides.