CHASING WATERFALLS IN SOUTHLAND
10 JANUARY 2024
Running Against The Clock (And Wind)
The Catlins is a rugged and scenic coastal region located in the southeastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It's known for its rugged beauty, waterfalls, Nugget Point Lighthouse (a very popular location for photographers at sunrise) and the wildlife (like the sea lions at Cannibal Bay).
We only had 4 days to spend in the Catlins, so we had A LOT to see and do along the coast, and the weather was only playing nice on two of the days (the joys of being in an area for a short amount of time, especially in winter), which meant that we were walking veeeery quickly on this track so we could fit all of our itinerary in! We had a whole day planned out and we started right down south at Curio Bay (almost at the bibbity bottom of the South Island), where we saw an 150-million-year-old fossilized forest at the beach, then it was off to see the hilarious Niagara Falls (the town is called Niagara and there is a tiny waterfall that someone has made a joke out of) and after that we did the McLean Falls track, where we saw one of the most impressive and powerful waterfalls we have seen in New Zealand so far.
The sun was getting low in the sky and boy was it getting cold! The Catlins are known to be a super windy place and we experienced the full force of that... especially at Nugget Point where my door almost blew off... luckily the car parked next to us saved that from happening, oops, hello insurance claim!
We pretty much ran along the path to the waterfall as it was so cold and we were trying to warm up, so I didn't take a whole lot of photos. We were also rushing to get out to Roaring Bay, south of Kaka Point where we were staying, in the hopes that we'd see penguins and seals coming in for the night before the sun set (we didn't see any, by the way). The track is a mixture of flat and short slopes, so it's very easy to do and it runs alongside the Purakaunui River (which is brown and not that inviting!) and is surrounded by beech and podocarp forest.
We only had 4 days to spend in the Catlins, so we had A LOT to see and do along the coast, and the weather was only playing nice on two of the days (the joys of being in an area for a short amount of time, especially in winter), which meant that we were walking veeeery quickly on this track so we could fit all of our itinerary in! We had a whole day planned out and we started right down south at Curio Bay (almost at the bibbity bottom of the South Island), where we saw an 150-million-year-old fossilized forest at the beach, then it was off to see the hilarious Niagara Falls (the town is called Niagara and there is a tiny waterfall that someone has made a joke out of) and after that we did the McLean Falls track, where we saw one of the most impressive and powerful waterfalls we have seen in New Zealand so far.
The sun was getting low in the sky and boy was it getting cold! The Catlins are known to be a super windy place and we experienced the full force of that... especially at Nugget Point where my door almost blew off... luckily the car parked next to us saved that from happening, oops, hello insurance claim!
We pretty much ran along the path to the waterfall as it was so cold and we were trying to warm up, so I didn't take a whole lot of photos. We were also rushing to get out to Roaring Bay, south of Kaka Point where we were staying, in the hopes that we'd see penguins and seals coming in for the night before the sun set (we didn't see any, by the way). The track is a mixture of flat and short slopes, so it's very easy to do and it runs alongside the Purakaunui River (which is brown and not that inviting!) and is surrounded by beech and podocarp forest.
The girls found a painted rock in one of the tree nooks
The Perfect Waterfall
We had the viewing area for the waterfall all to ourselves for ages, which was a real treat! This gave me a change to take photos with a slow shutter speed, so I could capture the waterfall in a beautiful flow state (I'm still learning). It was the perfect conditions for photography as there was no harsh light on the water, causing the exposure to blow out (like many waterfalls I've tried to capture!). Arabella wanted to have a go and she was very proud to see the photos she took. It really is such a perfect waterfall to photograph! I clambered over a few rocks to pose in one of the photos that Lath took... yes, I exist!!
Winter is obviously one of the best seasons to see a waterfall in all its glory, due to high rainfall, and we were thankful there was so much water at the Purakaunui Falls when we went. It's been the case for most of the waterfalls we have visited around New Zealand which is awesome - check out some of NZ's most incredible waterfalls here.
We were buzzing after seeing two incredible waterfalls in one day (and because of the rest of our fun experiences that day) and we couldn't wait to get back to our accommodation to warm up, before heading to Roaring Bay to try and spot some penguins coming in for the night.
Winter is obviously one of the best seasons to see a waterfall in all its glory, due to high rainfall, and we were thankful there was so much water at the Purakaunui Falls when we went. It's been the case for most of the waterfalls we have visited around New Zealand which is awesome - check out some of NZ's most incredible waterfalls here.
We were buzzing after seeing two incredible waterfalls in one day (and because of the rest of our fun experiences that day) and we couldn't wait to get back to our accommodation to warm up, before heading to Roaring Bay to try and spot some penguins coming in for the night.
Know Before You Go
- The track is 20-minutes return
- The track is easy and is a mixture of gravel, boardwalk and a small amount of stairs
- Dogs are allowed on leash here
- There are toilets at the carpark
- The waterfall can look different during the year, due to different amounts of rainfall in each season
How To Get To The Purakaunui Falls In Southland
The Purakaunui Falls are in the Catlins, which is in South Otago, New Zealand. They are located 30-minutes south of Kaka Point (one of the best places to stay in the Catlins) on Purakaunui Falls Road. It's well sign posted and there is plenty of parking.
Click here for the location on Google Maps.
Click here for the location on Google Maps.
Conclusion
The Purakaunui Falls are incredibly beautiful and are a photographer's dream! The track is just 20-minutes return which makes it much more appealing and it's perfect if you're driving up the coast, trying to fit in as many sights as possible like we were.
More to do in New Zealand
KEA POINT TRACK
CANTERBURY Discover the hidden gems of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the 1-hour Kea Point Track. You won't be disappointed!
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WHITES BAY
MARLBOROUGH The perfect beach for swimming and taking in the most incredible views from the cliffs. The drive here is just as breath-taking!
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AUCKLAND ZOO
AUCKLAND Lions and tigers and meercats, oh my! There's everything from rhinos to kiwis here at Auckland Zoo. Plus a really epic playground!
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