Hamurana Springs Recreation Reserve is a private reserve on the northern shore of Lake Rotorua, 17 kilometres west of the city. The reserve contains the deepest natural freshwater spring in the North Island of New Zealand — Te Puna-a-Hangarua — and the walk to reach it passes through a grove of giant redwoods planted alongside the Hamurana Stream in 1919. The 800-metre track is easy and suitable for all ages. An entry fee applies, paid at the adjacent golf course.
Practical Information
| Location | Hamurana Road, Hamurana — 17km west of Rotorua (approximately 20 minutes by car) |
| Entry fee | NZ$18 adults; pay at the golf course on arrival |
| Track length | 800m; easy; suitable for all ages and fitness levels |
| Track character | Streamside walk through ponga, native plantings, and the redwood grove to the main spring |
| Website | hamurana.co.nz |
The Redwood Grove
The redwoods at Hamurana were planted alongside the stream in 1919 — thought to have been planted by a local farmer who wanted to establish the trees on the fertile, stream-side ground. Over a century later, the tallest trees have reached approximately 55 metres, with an estimated 300 years still ahead of them before they approach their maximum height of around 120 metres. Walking through the grove creates the same sense of scale found in mature redwood forests — the trunks are not yet the enormous girths of old-growth Californian redwoods, but the height and the forest atmosphere they create is already striking.
The 800-metre track from the car park follows the Hamurana Stream through stands of ponga (tree ferns), native plantings, cabbage trees, and toi toi before entering the redwood grove. The track is streamside throughout and the light filtering through the canopy creates excellent conditions for photography.
The Springs
At the end of the grove walk, the Te Puna-a-Hangarua spring surfaces from the ground as a large pool of crystal-clear freshwater — the deepest natural freshwater spring in the North Island. The spring feeds the Hamurana Stream, which carries the water down to Lake Rotorua. The reserve also contains the Dancing Sands Spring, a smaller spring where sand grains dance on the surface of the upwelling water — an effect caused by the water pressure of the spring forcing fine sand particles upward in the flow.
The spring complex and the lake connection give the reserve a complete natural system to observe — from the underground water source through the stream to the lake — in a very short walk.
“Hamurana Springs is one of the best short walks in the Rotorua area — the redwood grove is beautiful and the springs at the end are unlike anything else. Worth the entry fee, easy walk, takes maybe an hour with time to sit at the springs.” — visitor account
Where to Learn More
Hamurana Springs — Official Website — entry information, facilities, and current operating details.
Tourism New Zealand — Hamurana Springs — official visitor guide.
Rotorua NZ — Hamurana Springs — practical visitor information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hamurana Springs Recreation Reserve?
On Hamurana Road in Hamurana, 17km west of Rotorua — approximately 20 minutes by car from the city centre.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes — NZ$18 per adult. Payment is made at the golf course on arrival. Check the Hamurana Springs website for current prices.
How long is the walk?
The track is 800 metres, rated easy, and is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Most visitors take 45 minutes to an hour with time to spend at the springs.
What is the Dancing Sands Spring?
A smaller spring within the reserve where upwelling water pressure causes fine sand grains to dance on the surface of the water — a visually distinctive feature caused by the spring’s pressure and the fine-grained sand below.
How tall are the redwood trees?
The tallest trees have reached approximately 55 metres after roughly 100 years of growth. They were planted in 1919 and are estimated to have another 300 years of growth ahead of them before approaching their maximum height.
Can I swim at Hamurana Springs?
The springs and stream are typically too cold for comfortable swimming — the water emerges at a constant cool temperature. The lake is accessible nearby but the springs themselves are not a swimming spot.
Hamurana Springs is on the western side of Lake Rotorua. See the Rotorua parks and reserves guide for other walking options, and the Whakarewarewa Forest guide for the city’s main redwood walking area.
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