Golden Bay VII: Te Waikoropupu Springs

We chanced upon the Te Waikoropupu Springs and they were amazing.

 

They form part of the karst landscape of the Tasman area and are New Zealand's biggest springs.

 

The clarity and amount of the water is staggering. Visibility is an amazing 63 metres. Outflow averages around 10 cubic metres a second. The degree of visibility is 'is very close to optically pure water, with clearer water found only beneath Antarctica’s near-frozen Weddell Sea' (DOC).

 

Water comes from both  shallow and deep sources. The deep source water is estimated to be in the region of 10 years old.

For further information on the springs, their Maori significance as a sacred place and the plants and animal follow this link and click on the pdf link below 'Interpretation Panels'.

Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Signs to Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
The huge outflow of the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
The huge outflow of the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
The rich microcosm of bryophytes and macrophytes at the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
The rich microcosm of bryophytes and macrophytes at the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Macrophytes at the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Macrophytes at the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
White sands are driven up from underground by force of the resurgent water at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
White sands are driven up from underground by force of the resurgent water at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
The astonishing clarity of the water at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay. Visibilty is a staggering 63m.
The astonishing clarity of the water at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay. Visibilty is a staggering 63m.
Strange golden bubbles (air sacs) at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Strange golden bubbles (air sacs) at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Cabbage tree/ti kouka (Cordyline australis) and flax (Phormium tenax) line the banks of the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Cabbage tree/ti kouka (Cordyline australis) and flax (Phormium tenax) line the banks of the Main Spring at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Rimu foliage at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Rimu foliage at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Brown Teal brown teal/pateke (Anas chlorotis) at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
Brown Teal brown teal/pateke (Anas chlorotis) at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
From the DOC Interpretation panels at at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.
From the DOC Interpretation panels at at Te Waikoropupu Springs, Golden Bay.