Driving into Tirau, a little township about fifty kms southwest of Hamilton, on my way to explore the Te Waihou walkway, I was greeted by these two amazing corrugated iron creations. (www.corrugatedcreations.co.nz)

There was also a pukeko, flowers and a sassy little minx sitting on top of a rustic building which housed a cafe. These varied corrugated creations set around the town added to the feeling ”I have escaped for the day” as I explored all the fascinating nooks and crannies this little township offered.

Tirau in Maori Language means” place of many cabbage trees” A  little town made up of 690 population.

Next there was a flat white  (which was just what I needed on this coolish morning.) The date and orange scone, which had just come out of the oven, finished the treat. This was all provided at the Bugger Café. A very iconic café with memorabilia in the form of poems, photos and newspaper articles.

Then I was off to the Te Waihou walkway, 9.5 kms from Tirau. This is a very easy, pretty 4.7km (one way) walk. It takes three hours return. Unfortunately, it is not able to provide access to wheelchairs or walkers.

 “The Springs are fed from the Mamaku plateau where the water takes up to one hundred years to filter through” It is amazingly clear. The white sand on the bottom stirs slowly as the water passes over it at the rate of 42 cubic meters per minute. The weed drifts lazily to and fro in the current and in some of the bigger pools smaller trout can be seen moving slowly from rock to rock. As no swimming is allowed in this paradise, there is no nervousness.

The reason for the blue colour (and high visual clarity) of the Waihou River and its spring source is the high optical purity of the water. Pure water is intrinsically blue 

in hue because it absorbs red light, leaving only blue and (some) green light to be absorbed by the observer’s eye.  Pure natural waters are blue or blue-green in colour because they lack light absorbing constituents and particle. Both particles and light absorbing matter are efficiently removed during the long settlement time of spring water while it aquifers. www.putaruru.co.nz

As I wandered along, the weak mid winter sun sat gently on my face and shoulders. The warmth so enjoyable after the bleakness of the winter days. So wonderful to be out in this beautiful spot.

Wattle trees, which edged the track, gave off a golden glow, as their heavily laden branches reached out to the watery sunshine.

Stopping beside a large pool, I could see small trout drifting lazily from the cover of some weeds across a small space to the next place of safety.

When the track was developed in 1999, local school children assisted with the planting trees along the banks of the track encouraging many native birds, such as Tui, Fantails and Kereru, to feast there.

These cattle, lazily chewing their cuds, watched my progress as I passed by them

Well after I got home the feeling of happiness and contentment caused by the beauty I had seen, stayed with me.