| Purakaunui Falls | |
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The Purakaunui Falls in full flow. |
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| Location | South Island, New Zealand |
| Type | Cascade |
| Watercourse | Purakaunui River |
The Purakaunui Falls are a cascading multi-tiered waterfall on the Purakaunui River, located in the Catlins in the southern South Island of New Zealand. A highly distinctive cataract, it is an iconic image for southeastern New Zealand, and were featured on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976.
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The falls are located 17 km (11 mi) to the southwest of the small town of Owaka and five kilometres (3 miles) from the river's outflow into the Pacific Ocean. They can be reached via a short, well-signposted bush walk from a gravel side-road off the main Owaka-Invercargill road.
The falls are in an isolated area surrounded by native bush in a scenic reserve of 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi), and fall 20 m (66 ft) in three tiers.