Hokitika Gorge is a must-do when traveling down the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. This hike is a short drive from the town of Hokitika, and is a fairly easy hike complete with 2 swing (suspension) bridges right over the river. This is cool enough in itself, but is made even better by the incredible ice-blue color of the river water.
The water is this color because it is fed from glacial runoff – the blue comes from minerals mixed in with the glacier as it grinds down the mountainside.
Fun fact – this glacial runoff water is actually a big reason why Pinot Noir in New Zealand’s Otago region is so good!
