TE WAIREKA SPRING

Sweet Water Spring

Imagine crystal-clear, pure water that you can drink straight from the bubbling spring!

Paradise Valley Springs has its own natural freshwater spring, Te Waireka (translated from the Maori language, meaning 'Sweet Water'). Flowing from deep underground at a rate of 60 litres every second, this pure water provides a never ending supply to our whole park and all its inhabitants and is why our trout pools are always crystal clear.

Visitors can taste pure New Zealand water from Te Waireka Spring - the water is safe to drink straight from the source. Scientific testing shows the water from Te Waireka Spring to be of a very high quality with excellent mineral contents.

Long ago before European settlement, local Maori tribes would bring their battle wounded warriors to Te Waireka Spring to drink as they believed these waters had healing qualities.

Maori Legend

Ancient history connects Te Waireka to one of New Zealand’s most famous Maori love stories: The legend of Hinemoa and Tutanekai.

Centuries ago a curse was placed on Hinemoa, heroine of the Te Arawa legend Hinemoa and Tutanekai. It was placed before her birth, and long before the deeply in love Hinemoa defied her tribe and swam through the night across Lake Rotorua, into the arms of her forbidden lover Tutanekai.

A great Tohunga (priest) took Hinemoa to Te Waireka, the finest, purest spring, and drawing on ancient ceremony removed the curse. Blessed, Hinemoa lived on to create a Legend.