Te Waikoropupū Springs, Natural freshwater springs in Golden Bay, New Zealand

Te Waikoropupū Springs is a spring complex near Tākaka in Golden Bay, where water rises through eight main vents from the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer. The spring lake has a floor of white sand, and smaller vents push sand upward in features called the 'dancing sands'. The springs feed the Te Waikoropupū River, a short tributary of the Tākaka River.

The springs and the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer received a Water Conservation Order in October 2023, the highest legal protection for a body of water in New Zealand. The order followed rising nitrate-nitrogen levels measured over 50 years. In December 2024 the Fast-track Approvals Act was passed, legislation that overrides the Resource Management Act and can nullify the order.

The springs hold deep spiritual meaning for Māori people as the dwelling place of Huriawa, a mythological water guardian of Aotearoa. Visitors experience this significance when walking through the site and respect the protocols that protect this sacred space.

A loop trail through manuka and kanuka forest leads to viewing platforms where you can observe the springs from designated spots. The ground is uneven in places and becomes slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

The lake bed is covered in white sand pushed up by smaller vents, known as the 'dancing sands'. Only a few scuba divers have ever been granted permission to dive here, and for them these upwelling sands are a highlight of the underwater view.