Purakaunui Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purakaunui Falls |
|
|---|---|
Purakaunui Falls
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | The Catlins, South Island |
| Coordinates | 46°31′13.46″S 169°33′47.56″E / 46.5204056°S 169.5632111°E |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 20 metres (66 ft) |
| Watercourse | Purakaunui River |
The Purakaunui Falls are a beautiful waterfall found in The Catlins, a special area on the southern South Island of New Zealand. This waterfall has three levels, meaning the water tumbles down in three steps, like a giant staircase. It's on the Purakaunui River.
These falls are one of the few large waterfalls in the South Island that are not in the high mountains. Because of this, they have been a very popular spot for visitors and photographers for a long time. The Purakaunui Falls are a famous symbol of The Catlins region. They were even shown on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976!
Finding Purakaunui Falls
The Purakaunui Falls are about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) southwest of a small town called Owaka. They are also about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from where the Purakaunui River flows into the Pacific Ocean.
You can reach the falls by taking a short, easy walk through the forest. The walk takes about 10 minutes from a car park. This car park is on a gravel road called Waikoato Valley / Purakaunui Falls Road. This road turns off the main road that goes between Owaka and Invercargill.
At the car park, you will find toilets and a nice picnic area. The turn-off to the falls is easy to see with signs. Many tourists traveling along the Southern Scenic Route stop here. The falls are often mentioned in travel guides about the area.
Nature Around the Falls
Even though the Purakaunui Falls are not inside the main Catlins Conservation Park, they are surrounded by amazing native bush. This means the area is covered in native New Zealand trees. You can see trees like podocarp and silver beech. The land around the falls is a special scenic reserve, covering about 5 square kilometers (2 square miles).
There is a small viewing platform near the top of the falls. This platform is easy to get to, even for people using wheelchairs. Steps then lead down to a bigger viewing platform at the bottom. From here, you can get a great view of all three levels of the 20-meter (65-foot) tall waterfall.
See also
In Spanish: Cataratas Purakaunui para niños
