The best waterfall to visit in the Catlins

There are four main waterfalls to visit driving along the Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins area of the South Island. On my visit I unintentionally bypassed Matai falls, so I will need to update this blog at a future date. All of the waterfalls outlined in this blog post are worth a visit, but if I were to pick just one…well read on to find out.

Purakaunui Falls

If you are driving south, Purakaunui falls is the first waterfall you will find after passing through the small township of Owaka. Please note Owaka is probably your best stop for a bite to eat and a coffee before you drive into the wild rainforest area of the Catlins. Purakaunui falls is a short drive off the scenic southern route and there is a large carpark with toilet facilities for visitors. The pathway is extremely well maintained and the walk to the falls takes about 5 minutes. The viewing platform is large and extremely sturdy. I visited the falls at the beginning of Septemeber and there was plenty of water flow to enjoy. Of all the waterfalls this one is probably the most popular so expect to see plenty of other visitors. Purakanui falls is definitely the most ‘chocolate box’ type image you will make on your waterfall odyssey.

Purakaunui Falls.

The next waterfall is Matai Falls, however I made the mistake of taking the backroad from Purakauni falls and missed Matai falls completely, so head back the way you arrived if you want to see Matai falls as well.

Mclean Falls

Mclean falls is located at the same turnoff as The Whistling Frog cafe. This is your next chance for a barista coffee and a bite to eat. The Mclean falls track entrance is located off a long winding gravel road and also has toilet facilities. The track is extremely well maintained and the walk to the falls is relatively easy going with a steep ascent to the waterfall viewing area. The Waterfall is impressive and had a great amount of water flow. I’d estimate the walk to take about 30 minutes to the falls and back.

The well constructed pathway of Mclean Falls.

Beautiful moss covered tree branches hang over the pathway to Mclean Falls.

Mclean Falls.

Koropuku Falls

The entrance to Koropuku falls is by the roadside of the Southern Scenic Route, so stay alert as you might drive past it. The waterfall is only a recent attraction. Two local men, Wayne Allen and Peter Hill decided to create a track to this small but charming falls. Over 15 years they worked on the track together and their efforts have not gone amiss as the bush walk to Koropuku falls is truely magical. It is said that they carried in 2000 punga logs to help create the track you walk over. Simply put Koropuku falls does not have the gravel path of the other bigger falls, but it does still maintain a connection to the bush and the track is truely magical.

Hop across these charming stepping stones on the Koropuku falls track.

A beautiful moss covered tree trunk on the Koropuku Track.

Beautiful punga logs have been laid down on the track for you to walk over.

Another beautiful rainforest scene from Koropuku falls track

Here stones have been laid to help make your way along this magical track.

Here you have to ‘walk the plank’ to cross the stream not far from the Koropuku falls.

Koropuku Falls.

As you have probably guessed by now my favourite waterfall to visit in the Catlins is the Koropuku falls. The workmanship of Wayne and Peter who crafted the track to the falls is gorgeous. It is a track that melds into the surrounding bush and honours the environment. The falls themselves are nowhere near as impressive as Purakaunui or Mclean falls, but the adventure and fun of visiting Koropuku falls is on another level. It is also of note that hardly any tourists know about these falls, so you might get them all to yourself.

Dunedin Landscape Photography: Tunnel Beach

Getting There

Access to Tunnel beach is located at the end of Tunnel beach road about 10 minutes drive from the city centre. The track to the beach is well constructed but it drops down onto the beach at a steep gradient. I have seen people go down easy enough but some do struggle to ascend again. There is a park bench or 2 to rest on if required. The walk down to the beach is no more than 10 minutes, however photographers might want to stop and take an image on the way down.

Elevated view of Tunnel beach in spring with gorse flowering

Plenty of Compositions

Tunnel beach offers up various viewpoints to take interesting images.

The steep pathway down to the beach creates a nice leading line into the composition.

These small fences have only been erected in the past year or so to help stop tourists from falling over cliff edges. I have used the grass and the fence to create a leading line into the image.

Tunnel beach at sunrise. The foreground clump of land helps balance the image.

Sunrise on Tunnel beach.

Here I am photographing from the most dominant cliff edge to the coastline beyond.

Here I just focused on the grass and the flowers in the foreground letting the cliff fall out of focus.

The arch is a great subject to shoot, but be careful of rouge waves and the slippery rock.

Summary

These are just a few examples of possible compositions at Tunnel beach. I know there are plenty more images to be had from this great location. You will be pleased to know there is tunnel access down onto the beach.

If you are visiting Dunedin a trip to tunnel beach is a must, but I suggest either going early or late to avoid the tourists.

Trev Hill is a professional photographer based in Dunedin.