List of waterfalls of New Zealand facts for kids
This is a list of notable waterfalls in New Zealand. Many of the highest waterfalls are in Fiordland.
| Name | Height | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Ananui Falls | 106 metres (348 ft) | Waikato Region |
| Aniwaniwa Falls | 15 metres (49 ft) | Hawke's Bay region |
| Bowen Falls | 162 metres (531 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 55 metres (180 ft) | Waikato Region |
| Browne Falls | 836 metres (2,743 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Chamberlain Falls | 700 metres (2,300 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Fairy Falls | 15 metres (49 ft) | Auckland Region |
| Grainger Falls | Fiordland National Park, Southland region | |
| Helena Falls | 50 metres (160 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Huka Falls | 11 metres (36 ft) | Waikato River, Waikato Region |
| Humboldt Falls | 275 metres (902 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Hunua Falls | 30 metres (98 ft) | Auckland Region |
| Hururu Falls | 6 metres (20 ft) | Northland Region |
| Karekare Falls | 30 metres (98 ft) | Auckland Region |
| Kitekite Falls | 40 metres (130 ft) | Auckland Region |
| Lady Alice Falls | 200 metres (660 ft) - 280 metres (920 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Lake Unknown Falls | 680 metres (2,230 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Madonna Falls | 5 metres (16 ft) | Waikato Region |
| Maraetotara Falls | 16 metres (52 ft) | Hawke's Bay Region |
| Marokopa Falls | 35 metres (115 ft) | Waikato Region |
| Mauku Falls | 5 metres (16 ft) | Auckland Region |
| McLean Falls | 22 metres (72 ft) | The Catlins, Otago region |
| Mokau Falls | 37 metres (121 ft) | Te Urewera National Park, Hawke's Bay region |
| Mount Damper Falls | 74 metres (243 ft) | Taranaki Region |
| Omaru Falls | 45 metres (148 ft) | Waikato Region |
| Okere Falls | 5 metres (16 ft) | Bay of Plenty Region |
| Owharoa Falls | 6 metres (20 ft) | Waikato Region |
| Palisade Falls | 55 metres (180 ft) | Fiordland Region |
| Purakaunui Falls | 20 metres (66 ft) | The Catlins, Otago region |
| Rainbow Falls (Waianiwaniwa) | 27 metres (89 ft) | Northland Region |
| Stirling Falls | 150 metres (490 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Sutherland Falls | 580 metres (1,900 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Terror Falls | 740 metres (2,430 ft) | Fiordland National Park, Southland region |
| Tarawera Falls | 35 metres (115 ft) | Bay of Plenty Region |
| Te Rere o Kapuni | Taranaki Region | |
| Wairere Falls | 153 metres (502 ft) | Kaimai Ranges, Waikato Region |
| Waitakere Falls | 95 metres (312 ft) | Auckland Region |
| Whangarei Falls | 26 metres (85 ft) | Northland Region |
| Te Rere I Oturu Falls | 40 metres (130 ft) | Kaimai Ranges, Bay of Plenty Region |
New Zealand waterfalls
New Zealand, according to the gazetteer maintained by Land Information New Zealand has “249 named waterfalls and 31 named rapids”. There are perhaps seven named “Bridal Veil”, and 17 which include “Rere” meaning “to leap or descend”. In the North Island only 18 of 130 have non-Maori names (including 5 clustered around Mount Taranaki), but in the South Island only 15 of the 150 named waterfalls (or rapids) have retained their Maori name.
There are disagreements on what constitutes a waterfall, e.g. the Browne Falls which is claimed to be “the tallest at around 800m, but this is misleading: the 'fall' is in reality a steep stream" and “cateracts many would not call waterfalls (eg) the 800m Browne Falls (which is) little more than a steep stream”
Fiordland
Many of the highest New Zealand waterfalls are in Fiordland National Park in the Southland region of the South Island, and are geographically on the west coast; an area with very high rainfall. Several of the waterfalls empty into fiords off the Tasman Sea:
- falls into Doubtful Sound - Chamberlain Falls, Helena Falls, Lady Alice Falls.
- falls into Milford Sound - Bowen Falls, Stirling Falls.
