List of waterfalls of New Zealand


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, but in the South Island only 15 of the 150 named waterfalls have retained their Maori name.
There are disagreements on what constitutes a waterfall. For example, the Browne Falls is claimed by some to be a waterfall with a drop of 800 metres. Other sources describe it as a steep stream with numerous small cataracts.

List of waterfalls

This is a list of notable waterfalls in New Zealand. Many of the highest waterfalls are in Fiordland.
NameHeightLocation
Ananui FallsWaikato region
Aniwaniwa FallsHawke's Bay Region
Bowen FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Bridal Veil FallsWaikato region
Browne FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Chamberlain FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Fairy FallsAuckland Region
Grainger FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Helena FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Huka FallsWaikato River, Waikato region
Humboldt FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Hunua FallsAuckland Region
Hururu FallsNorthland Region
Karekare FallsAuckland Region
Kitekite FallsAuckland Region
Lady Alice Falls - Fiordland National Park, Southland region
Lake Unknown FallsFiordland National Park, Otago region
Madonna FallsWaikato region
Maraetotara FallsHawke's Bay Region
Marokopa FallsWaikato region
Mauku FallsAuckland Region
McLean FallsThe Catlins, Otago region
Mokau FallsTe Urewera National Park, Hawke's Bay Region
Mount Damper FallsTaranaki Region
Omaru FallsWaikato region
Okere FallsBay of Plenty Region
Owharoa FallsWaikato region
Palisade FallsFiordland Region
Purakaunui FallsThe Catlins, Otago region
Rainbow Falls Northland Region
Stirling FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Sutherland FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Terror FallsFiordland National Park, Southland region
Tarawera FallsBay of Plenty Region
Te Rere o KapuniTaranaki Region
Wainui FallsWainui Bay, Tasman Region
Wairere FallsKaimai Ranges, Waikato region
Waitakere FallsAuckland Region
Whangarei FallsNorthland Region
Te Rere I Oturu FallsKaimai Ranges, Bay of Plenty Region

[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: