The walkway starts and finishes at the car park, where a sheltered area with Māori carvings has information panels that provide interesting details on the history, hydrology and ecology of the springs. The walkway can be walked in either direction. Though it is only 1 km in length, allow a little more time to admire the springs. The gravel walkway is wide and smooth. A few hundred metres from the car park a boardwalk crosses a shallow area of water flowing from Fish Creek Springs and then a bridge crosses the swift-flowing Fish Creek. Surrounding the walkway are impressive rimu, kahikatea and a particularly large mataī. The walkway reaches a viewing platform that overlooks Main Spring. The rippling surface of the water masks its true clarity, though the aqua blue sands and colourful aquatic vegetation can be seen at the bottom of the springs’ basin, which has a deceptive depth of nearly 7 m. Dancing Sands Spring, separated from Main Spring by a small island, is a short distance further and has its own, smaller viewing platform. The walkway heads back alongside Fish Creek, where a bridge crosses back to the start of the walkway next to the car park. The springs are considered wāhi tapu (sacred) by Māori. Their waters were traditionally used for ceremonies and healing processes, and a taniwha named Huriawa was said to guard them. To preserve their clarity, no contact is allowed to be made with the water that flows from the springs. Be respectful of this when you visit.