Cascades et lacs dans l'île du Sud

Waterfalls & Lakes

The South Island’s hydrology spans from the turquoise glacial waters of Lake Tekapo and Pukaki in the Mackenzie Basin to the 580-meter drop of Sutherland Falls near Milford Sound. This collection features alpine lakes shaped by glacial movement, such as the mirror-reflective Lake Matheson, alongside tiered cascades like Purakaunui Falls in the Catlins. These sites highlight diverse geological formations, including the sheer fjord walls of Piopiotahi and the ancient beech forests surrounding the Nelson Lakes.

Waterfalls & Lakes — Carte

Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch,… / cc0

A

Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Fjord featuring dramatic sheer rock faces, waterfalls, and unique marine life. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Paul Carmona / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the…

Fabiana Valera / CC-BY-SA

C

Lake Pukaki

Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New…

Ghislain Mary / CC BY-SA 2.0

D

Lake Wānaka

Lake Wānaka is New Zealand's fourth-largest lake and the seat of the town of Wānaka in the Otago region.

Tom-Niklas Brüning / CC-BY-SA

E

Lake Matheson

Lake Matheson is a small glacial lake in South Westland, New Zealand, near the township of Fox Glacier.

F

Purakaunui Falls

Three-tiered waterfall cascading 20 meters through podocarp and beech forest in the Catlins region.

Pseudopanax / Public domain

G

McLean Falls

The McLean Falls on the Tautuku River in Catlins Forest Park descend a number of steep drop offs and terraces, with the very top of the…

Skyfirex / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Devils Punchbowl Falls

A 131-meter waterfall located in Arthur's Pass National Park, accessible via a forest track at the base of Bealey Spur.

timberfoster / CC0

I

Lake Rotoiti

Glacial lake in Nelson Lakes National Park, characterized by its long wooden jetty and surrounding beech forests at the foot of the Saint Arnaud Range.

Krzysztof Golik / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes are a set of lakes lying north of Lake Te Anau and immediately to the west of the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound in New…

K

Sutherland Falls

One of New Zealand’s tallest waterfalls, dropping 580 meters in three sections from Lake Quill near Milford Sound.

Pseudopanax / Public domain

L

Hineteawa / Bowen Falls

The Bowen Falls, also known as Lady Bowen Falls, is a popular tourist attraction at Milford Sound, a fiord in New Zealand.

Tony Hisgett / CC BY 2.0

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Fantail Falls

A 23-meter fan-shaped waterfall in Mount Aspiring National Park that flows into the Haast River over a broad rock face.

Pseudopanax / Public domain

N

Wainui Falls

The largest waterfall in Golden Bay, cascading over granite bedrock within Abel Tasman National Park.

Tom Webb / Public domain

O

Maruia Falls

The Maruia River is located in the northwestern South Island of New Zealand.