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Finding
The Lost Spring
OF WHITIANGA
I remember the opening of The Lost Spring
in 2008 well. I was impressed with owner/
creator, Alan Hopping, for ‘following his
dream’. And when I learned the history and
what it took to realise this vision ... I was
even more impressed.
He never gave up. He never stopped
believing. And after over 20 years of
challenges and disappointments, he struck
what he lusted after – his natural abundant
supply of hot mineral waters.
I often wondered how many stars he had to
‘wish upon’ to make his dream come true.
I felt Alan’s story deserved to be retold, to
encourage all of us to follow our own dreams
and wherever they take us. – Tovi Daly
DREAMING AN OASIS OF PEACE
...THEN ADD WORK!
In 1980, dairy farmer Alan Hopping and his
family made a major life-changing decision to
sell their farm in South Auckland and purchase
a 8.5 acre Whitianga camping ground. However
it was not operating the holiday park that
inspired him, it was what might lie beneath it.
Knowing of the region’s volcanic geology – and
the Maori legend of geothermal hot springs that
had once flowed into the nearby Taputapuatea
Stream (locally known as the Mother Brown
Creek) – his plan was to drill through the rocky
earth’s crust, hoping he would find the mineral-
rich healing waters of this ‘Lost Spring’ below.
Alan used two diviners to eventually zero in on
the best drilling locations. Local Diviner Tom
Finlay was able to divine the difference between
the sand, rock and hardness. A second diviner
from Australia was able to divine the water’s
mineral content. The rock zones and the
mineral information pointed to the best sites.
However, drilling was not all straighforward.
It wasn’t until 1987 that his first exploratory
well was drilled. All signs of rock makeup and
temperature rise indicated Alan’s hunch was
correct. He now had confidence to draw up the
plans and begin construction for his ‘spa park’
– ponds, lagoons, caves with crystal embedded
walls and even an erupting volcano.
The well drillers kept at it 24/7 for three weeks
and struck hot water at 625 metres. “We called
it Champagne Springs to celebrate,” said
Alan. But 3 years into construction, that well
succumbed to an electrical problem and was
written off.
Two years later a second well was drilled to 645
metres but was dry. Some may have given up
at this point, but not Alan.
A third production well was successfully drilled
in 2006. “This well was 667 metres”, explains
Alan, “producing bacteria-free, pristine,
fossilised mineral water of not less than 16,000
years old. This spring water, with a pH of 7.4,
contains about 400 minerals and holds amazing
healing properties especially for skin, muscle
and joint conditions.” The Lost Spring, found.
Proud granddad Alan with daughter Alanna
and her children.
Gentle paths lead to surprises like this hanging footbridge and hidden tropical lagoons.
Smaller pools concentrate the hotter pure mineral springs water.
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COROMANDEL LIFE 2015 LATE SUMMER/EASTER