Purakaunui Falls Walk is a 20-minute return track in the Catlins, South Island. Distance: 600m return. Time: 10 minutes each way. Difficulty: Easy. Well-formed bush track through native forest to a three-tiered, 20-meter waterfall. One of the Catlins’ most photographed waterfalls. Parking at trailhead. Basic facilities. Suitable for most fitness levels. Located off Southern Scenic Route.
Find more walks in this area… Explore all Otago Region walks for additional tramping options in the Catlins and beyond.
Purakaunui Falls is located in the heart of the Catlins, accessible from either Dunedin or Invercargill. The turn-off is clearly signposted from the Southern Scenic Route.
From Dunedin: Drive south on State Highway 1 for approximately 90 kilometres to Balclutha, then turn onto State Highway 92 (the Catlins Highway). Continue for about 45 kilometres, watching for the Purakaunui Falls Road turn-off on your left. Follow this gravel road for 3 kilometres to the car park.
From Invercargill: Head east on State Highway 92 for roughly 110 kilometres. The Purakaunui Falls Road turn-off will be on your right. Follow the gravel access road for 3 kilometres.
Important: The final 3-kilometre access road is unsealed gravel but well-maintained and suitable for 2WD vehicles. Drive cautiously as the road can be narrow with occasional potholes. Allow 10 minutes for this section.
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The car park accommodates approximately 15-20 vehicles, though it can fill up during peak summer periods (December to February) and during mid-morning. Here’s an insider tip: arrive before 9am or after 3pm for guaranteed parking and a more peaceful experience. The car park has a long-drop toilet but no other facilities—bring your own water and snacks.
Campervans and motorhomes can park here, though turning space is limited. If you’re driving something large, you might need to reverse out.
Purakaunui Falls is famously photogenic, but getting the perfect shot requires timing and technique. The falls face roughly north-east, meaning morning light (between 10am and noon) provides the best illumination without harsh shadows. However, for that moody, atmospheric look, overcast days actually work brilliantly—the diffused light eliminates bright spots and allows longer exposures.
Here’s what the guidebooks won’t tell you: the viewing platform can get crowded, but there’s a small side angle to the left where you can set up a tripod without blocking others. Bring a polarising filter to cut through the spray and enhance the forest greens. A neutral density filter lets you shoot those silky long exposures even in daylight.
After heavy rain, the falls transform from a gentle cascade into a roaring torrent. The water volume can increase tenfold, creating incredible drama but also more spray that can spot your lens. Keep a microfibre cloth handy.
This walk punches well above its weight for such a short distance. The moment you leave the car park, you’re immersed in coastal podocarp forest—the kind of ancient, moss-draped ecosystem that once covered much of New Zealand. The canopy is thick enough that even on sunny days, the track remains shaded and cool.
The descent is gentle but you’ll notice it on the return climb. Those wooden steps can be slippery when wet (which is often), so decent footwear with grip is essential. I’ve seen tourists attempt this in jandals and immediately regret it. The track is wide enough for two people to pass comfortably, and boardwalk sections protect both walkers and the surrounding vegetation.
Keep your eyes open for wildlife. Fantails are almost guaranteed to make an appearance, often following walkers to catch insects disturbed by footsteps. Bellbirds and tūī call from the canopy, and if you’re exceptionally lucky and quiet, you might spot a kererū (native wood pigeon) roosting in the branches.
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Unlike single-drop waterfalls, Purakaunui’s three-tiered cascade creates multiple focal points. The water tumbles approximately 20 metres in total, with each tier creating its own pool before spilling to the next level. The rock formation creates a natural amphitheatre that amplifies the sound, making the falls feel larger than they actually are.
The water colour is distinctive—that clear brown tannin stain common to Catlins waterways. It’s perfectly safe and natural, caused by tannins leaching from decaying vegetation upstream. On sunny days, the brown water against dark schist rock with bright green moss creates a colour palette that seems almost designed for Instagram.
Let’s be honest about the downsides. This walk’s popularity means you’re rarely alone unless you time it right. Tour buses sometimes stop here, dumping 30-40 people onto a track designed for far fewer. If you arrive and see multiple vehicles, consider walking another track first and returning later.
The sandflies can be absolutely savage, particularly in still conditions from late spring through autumn. They’re worst around the viewing platform where people linger. Bring insect repellent and apply it before you start walking—once the sandflies find you, it’s too late. Long sleeves and pants help more than you’d think.
The gravel access road can be rough on rental car suspensions if you drive too quickly. Take it slow, especially if it’s been raining. I’ve seen hire vehicles with punctured tyres limping back to the highway more than once.
Each season transforms this walk into something different. Summer brings the most visitors but also the lowest water levels. The falls still impress but lack the drama of wetter months. Autumn paints the beech trees in gold and copper tones, creating stunning forest contrasts. Winter sees the fewest visitors—you might have the place entirely to yourself on a midweek afternoon, though the track can be muddy and slippery.
Spring is arguably the sweet spot. Water levels are up from winter rains, native birds are particularly vocal during breeding season, and new growth creates vibrant green hues throughout the forest. Plus, the weather is more stable than winter but without summer’s crowds.
Can I swim at Purakaunui Falls?
Swimming is not recommended and there’s no safe access to the pool. The water is cold, the rocks are slippery, and getting down there would require leaving the track and damaging vegetation. Save your swimming for Catlins beaches.
Is the walk suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters?
Unfortunately no. While the track is well-formed, the steps and gradient make it unsuitable for wheels. The car park and toilet are accessible, but the falls themselves require walking the track.
How busy does it get?
During peak season (December-February), expect company between 10am-3pm. Shoulder seasons and weekdays are quieter. Winter weekdays you might see nobody else at all.
Are there other walks nearby I can combine with this one?
Absolutely. McLean Falls is 15 minutes drive north and offers a longer, more challenging walk. Matai Falls is closer still and provides a quick additional waterfall fix. Both can be combined for a half-day Catlins waterfall tour.
What should I do if I encounter a medical emergency on the track?
The track is short enough that returning to the car park is usually the fastest option. There’s no mobile coverage to call for help from the falls. Carry a basic first aid kit. The nearest medical facilities are in Owaka (40 minutes drive).
Can I bring my drone to photograph the falls?
Drones are generally discouraged in DOC-managed areas without permission as they disturb wildlife and other visitors. The forest canopy also makes flying treacherous. Better to appreciate this one from ground level.
Is there a best time of day for photography?
Mid to late morning (10am-noon) offers the best natural light filtering through the canopy. Overcast days work brilliantly for waterfall photography as they eliminate harsh shadows and bright spots.
The walk to Purakaunui Falls took me through some of the most enchanting forest I’ve seen in New Zealand. Massive old-growth trees arched overhead, their trunks thick with moss, while ferns sprouted from every available surface. The air felt different here—damper, cooler, almost primeval.
The track itself was easy, mostly flat with a few gentle steps built into the hillside. I passed only two other people the entire way, which made the experience feel almost private. After about fifteen minutes, I started hearing the falls before I could see them—a steady rushing sound that grew louder as I rounded the final bend.
When the falls came into view, I stopped on the viewing platform and just stared. The water cascaded down in multiple tiers, probably twenty meters in total, creating this beautiful layered effect against the dark rock face. The pool at the bottom was perfectly clear, tinted brown from the tannins in the surrounding vegetation. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, catching the spray and creating little rainbows that appeared and vanished.
I stayed for maybe twenty minutes, sitting on the platform steps. The constant sound of falling water had this meditative quality that made it hard to leave. A few drops of mist reached me even from that distance, cool on my face.
On the walk back, I noticed things I’d missed coming in—tiny mushrooms growing on fallen logs, the way light played through the tree ferns, a fantail darting between branches. The whole experience took less than an hour, but it felt like stepping into another world entirely.
