Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls in The Catlins – New Zealand

Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls in The Catlins – New Zealand

Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls are two easily accessible waterfalls that originate from the Matai Stream in The Catlins.

Visiting Matai Falls in the Catlins is a worthwhile stop on any Catlins road trip. This waterfall actually surprised me because I had missed it during my research in the area and had just spontaneously spotted the waterfall sign on the side of the road.

I was doubly surprised to find out that there are actually two waterfalls at this location; Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls. These are two separate levels of the same stream, but both are worth a quick visit.

MORE WATERFALLS: MCLEAN FALLS IN THE CATLINS

Arrival to Matai Falls

The Matai Falls car park is located in the Table Hill Scenic Reserve on the Papatowai Highway. The car park is about halfway between Papatowai and Owaka.

The best way to get here is to follow the pin instructions below. You won't have any problems finding the waterfall as the signs to the parking lot are well signposted.

If you're coming from Owaka (or Dunedin) I'd recommend also making the quick detour to Purakaunaui Falls, just 15-20 minutes away.

Waterfall hike

Walking Difficulty: Very easy, 10-15 minutes

After leaving our car in the parking lot, we took a fairly short 10 minute walk through a beautiful native podocarp and deciduous forest.

The route is very well maintained and accessible to all fitness levels.

After a few minutes of walking you will come to an intersection where you can continue straight or turn left. If you turn left you will reach the lower waterfall. Matai Falls and further leads to the top waterfall; Horseshoe Falls. Both cable cars are short and easy to navigate.

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Matai Falls

Waterfall height: 10 meters

The first waterfall is Matai Falls, a 10 meter high waterfall in a small clearing. There is a small wooden viewing platform where you can get a good look at Matai Falls and snap some shots.
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Although not technically on the route, I took a detour to get a view of Matai Falls from above by walking through a bush and down to the stream. However, be careful in this case as the rocks are very slippery and the waterfall drops steeply.
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Horseshoe Falls

Waterfall height: 10 meters

If you follow the right path you can continue a short climb to the upper waterfall level; Horseshoe Falls.

In my opinion, the Horseshoe Falls were more impressive than the lower Matai Falls. Although both are beautiful waterfalls, Horseshoe Falls was surrounded on all sides by babbling streams. Although the waterfall itself is not huge, its stream was wide and gentle, making it a pleasure to photograph.
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After walking a little further down the creek, I also got a nice light view of Horseshoe Falls.
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More waterfalls in the Catlins

I hope you found this guide to Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls helpful. If you're looking for more waterfalls or adventures in the Catlins, be sure to check out the list of free guides below or read this blog for a full list of things to do in the Catlins.

For now, here are a few more photos of these magnificent waterfalls to motivate you to make the quick stop!
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MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.

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