Purakaunui Falls, Three-tiered waterfall in The Catlins, New Zealand

Purakaunui Falls is a waterfall in The Catlins that drops in three distinct tiers across roughly 20 meters. The water plunges through thick native forest, forming a series of pools that catch the water between each cascade.

The falls lie in a scenic reserve of about 5 square kilometres of podocarp and silver beech forest, separate from the Catlins Conservation Park. Their national profile grew when they were pictured on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976, and they are now a well-signposted stop on the Southern Scenic Route.

The waterfall gained national recognition when it was selected to appear on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976, representing natural landmarks.

A short walk of about ten minutes leads from the car park to the falls. Along the way there are toilet facilities and level viewing points that are accessible to most visitors.

The 1976 stamp was not the falls' only appearance in print: the three-tiered cascade has long been a popular photographic subject and serves as an emblem for the Catlins region. It stands in a scenic reserve of about 5 square kilometres of podocarp and silver beech forest, though it lies outside the Catlins Conservation Park itself.