As you can tell, we cram in a lot on these epic quests across countries, even when we drive between hotels for four hours or more. The result is that one small adventure was overlooked on the day we went to Farewell Spit, and we thought it was too beautiful and unique not to share. After we walked along Farewell Spit and were graced with a sunny day, we sidetracked on the way to Takaka to view the Te Waikorupupu Springs. The spring is huge, and produces 14,000 liters of water per second, enough to fill 40 bathtubs.

This is the walk to the springs, a nice loop through the jungle, lots of green ferns, beeches, and palms all mingling together in the unique New Zealand manner we know and love.

The gravel path slowly turned into a boardwalk as the ground underneath our feet got swampier. The path turned a corner and the springs were in a large clearing, more resembling a lake.

In this photo you can see the burbling spring. There were at least six other springs throughout the water source, but what was really remarkable was the clarity of the water.

And in the parking lot we saw a weka! (Native flightless bird resembling a fat bottomed duck)

The End.

*****Written By Laura*****

• New Zealand 2016-17