If you’re looking to visit some New Zealand waterfalls, you’ll likely find this page helpful. I’ll make sure to include a half-decent image of the waterfall as well as include the following information:

Where: I’ll provide a Google Maps link.
Height: the approximate height of the waterfall.
Type: you can learn about the different types here
Distance: How long it takes to walk to the waterfall
Read more: I’ll add a link if I’ve written about the waterfall elsewhere

When I get to a reasonable number of waterfalls on this page (let’s say 50), I’ll make a map with all of them pinned.

There are at least a few hundred waterfalls in NZ based on numbers from various sources. I won’t be chasing this goal passionately, but I’ll be stoked to get to 100 in the next few years as I detail them all here.

MAP OF NEW ZEALAND WATERFALLS

Coming soon. Well, when I’ve visited 50.

NORTH ISLAND WATERFALLS

TUPAPAKURUA FALLS

Location: National Park
Height: N/A
Type: N/A
Swimmable: Yes
Time to get there: ~1 to 2 hour hike each way
Read More: Hiking to Tupapakurua Falls

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

Location: Waikato (near Raglan)
Height:55 metres
Type: N/A
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~10-20 mins hike each way
Read More: Is Raglan worth visiting?

WENTWORTH VALLEY FALLS

Photo of a waterfall with a swimming area at the bottom surrounded by greenery

Location: Coromandel
Height:N/A
Type: N/A
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~50 to 80 mins hike each way
Read More: The Wentworth Valley Waterfall walk

WHANGAREI FALLS

Location: Whangarei
Height:26 metres
Type: Curtain
Swimmable: Yes
Time to get there: ~10 mins hike each way
Read More: Whangarei Falls walk

TAWHAI FALLS

Location: Manawatu-Whanganui
Height:13 metres
Type: Curtain
Swimmable: Yes
Time to get there: ~10 mins hike each way

KOROKORO DAM WATERFALL

Location: Wellington
Height:8 metres
Type: Step
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~30 mins walk each way

DICKEY FLAT WATERFALLS

Location: Coromandel
Height:4 metres
Type: Flow
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~80 mins walk each way

HARURU FALLS

Location: Bay of Islands
Height: 6 metres
Type: Block
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~1 minute

WHARAPUKE WATERFALL

Location: Kerikeri, Northland
Height: 5 metres
Type: Block
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~20 mins walk each way

OKERE FALLS

Location: Rotorua
Height: 5 metres
Type: Cataract
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 5 minutes return

TROUT POOL FALLS

Location: Rotorua
Height: 5 metres
Type: Cataract
Swimmable: No ¹
Time to get there: A 5 minute return walk

HUKA FALLS

Location: Taupo
Height: 11 metres
Type: Cataract
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 5 minutes (or go via the Huka Falls walk)

WAITONGA FALLS

Location: Manawatu
Height: 39 metres
Type: N/A
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~25 to 35 minutes one way

WHAREKIRAUPONGA FALLS

Location: Coromandel
Height: ~5 metres
Type: N/A
Swimmable: Yes
Time to get there: ~60-90 mins each way.
Read More: Wharekirauponga Falls

WAIRERE FALLS

Location: Waikato
Height: 153 metres
Type: N/A
Swimmable: Not really.
Time to get there: ~25 – 60 mins hike each way
Read More: Wairere Falls walk

MOUNT DAMPER FALLS

Location: Taranaki/Forgotten Highway
Height: 74 metres
Type: Punchbowl
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~15 – 20 mins walk each way
Read More: N/A

TARANAKI FALLS

Location: Taranaki/Forgotten Highway
Height: 20 metres
Type: Punchbowl
Swimmable: Yes
Time to get there: ~60-90 mins walk each way
Read More: Taranaki Falls Track

OWHAROA FALLS

owharoa falls

Location: Coromandel
Height:7 metres
Type: Fan
Swimmable:Somewhat
Time to get there: ~3 mins walk each way

UNKNOWN WATERFALL

Location: Coromandel
Height:10 metres
Type: Punchbowl
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~30 mins walk each way

RAINBOWS FALLS

Location: Kerikeri, Northland
Height:27 metres
Type: Curtain
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~1 min – 3 hours walk each way (various routes)

WAIRERE (TE WAIROA) FALLS

Location: Rotorua
Height:30 metres
Type: Horsetail
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 25-35 mins walk return²

TUTEA FALLS

Location: Rotorua
Height: 7 metres
Type: Cataract
Swimmable: No ³
Time to get there: 20 mins return walk

MERJA’S WATERFALL

merjas waterfall
Location: Wellington
Height: 10 metres
Type: Horsetail
Swimmable: No (you can climb up the rock though)
Time to get there: 40-50 mins return walk

SOUTH ISLAND WATERFALLS

WAIPOHATU FALLS

Location: Catlins
Height:n/a (there’s two)
Type: n/a
Swimmable: Yes
Time to get there: ~45 to 60 mins each way
Read More: Waipohatu Waterfall walk

PURAKAUNUI FALLS

Location: Catlins
Height:n/a
Type: n/a
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~5 to 10 mins walk each way
Read More: n/a

KOROPUKU FALLS

Location: Catlins
Height:n/a
Type: n/a
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~15 mins walk each way
Read More: n/a

BARNES DAM FALLS

Location: Picton
Height: 10 metres
Type: Punchbowl
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~1 hour walk each way
Read More: n/a

TWELVE MILE CREEK FALLS

Location: Queenstown
Height: 4 metres
Type: Cascades
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~1 hour walk each way
Read More: THE MOUNT CRICHTON LOOP TRACK

TWO MILE CREEK FALLS

Location: Queenstown
Height: 8 metres
Type: Horsetail
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~30 mins walk each way

ROUTEBURN FALLS

Location: Routeburn Track, Otago
Height: 20 metres
Type: Segmented
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 2-3 hour walk each way

MATAI FALLS

Location: Catlins
Height:n/a
Type: n/a
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~15 mins walk each way
Read More: A Catlins itinerary

MCLEAN FALLS

Location: Catlins
Height:n/a
Type: n/a
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~10 mins walk each way
Read More: n/a

NICHOLS FALLS

Location: Catlins
Height:n/a
Type: n/a
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: ~7 to 10 mins each way
Read More: Nichols Falls

SHIP COVE WATERFALL

waterfall near ship cove on the queen charlotte track

Location: Marlborough Sounds
Height: ~4-5 metres
Type: Segmented
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 10-15 mins each way

ONE MILE CREEK WATERFALL

one mile creek waterfall

Location: Queenstown
Height: 12 metres
Type: Horsetail
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 20 mins each way

SAWPIT GULLY FALLS

sawpit gully falls

Location: Arrowtown
Height: 5 metres
Type: Cascade
Swimmable: No
Time to get there: 40-50 mins return
Read More: Sawpit Gully Track

Visiting all the waterfalls in New Zealand is definitely not on my priority list. But I’m sure as I continue to see more and more of the country, I’ll chip away at them and before I know it this list will be a massive list of waterfalls in the country.

Jub

Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.

2 Comments

Dave Yuhas on January 5, 2023 at 7:41 am

Do the waterfalls run all year, or do they dry up in the dry season?
What’s the best time of the day to photograph – morning or afternoon – a waterfall?
Which direction does the waterfall face?
What’s the latitude and longitude?
- Jub on January 5, 2023 at 8:27 am
  
  Hey Dave,
  
  Thanks for the suggestions! Need to revamp this page, so will keep these in mind!

NEW ZEALAND WATERFALLS: A QUEST TO VISIT THEM ALL