Barrs Falls, The Catlins

by

Barrs Falls is one of the less popular waterfalls in the Catlins, mostly because it often runs dry and there are more impressive (and resilient) waterfalls nearby. We’ve made two trips to Barrs Falls in recent years, one in dry conditions and one after recent rain. This is what we found.

Getting to Barrs Falls

Barrs Falls is a 10-minute drive from Owaka. It’s mostly down a gravel road but it’s an easy drive. From there it’s a 5-minute walk through the forest to the falls.

Barrs Falls (Without Water)

I’d heard Barrs Falls was a bit hit or miss, and after visiting a few other waterfalls in the Catlins that day it seemed like there wouldn’t be much water. There were a couple of tiny trickles but certainly not the rush of water you’d expect when visiting a waterfall. It was disappointing but considering how easy it was to visit we didn’t feel too cheated.

Barrs Falls (With Water)

The second time we visited Barrs Falls was on our recent trip to Kaka Point. It was winter and everything seemed nice and lush in the Catlins — surely there’d be water! I could hear the water as I approached. Lots of it. This waterfall is actually pretty good, I thought to myself. There’s a small waterfall just before the main one comes into sight.

It’s tough to get an unobstructed view of Barrs Falls so it’s not really one for photographers. It’s a quick place to visit and should be a good one to do with kids as the track is nice and easy and it shouldn’t be too busy.

Other Waterfalls in the Catlins

Barrs Falls is one of many waterfalls in the Catlins, the most famous being Purakaunui Falls and Mclean Falls. It’s not as impressive as those two but is similar in scale to Matai Falls / Waipohatu Falls (pictured below) although the viewing isn’t as good. That’s on a good day, on a bad one you’ll barely see any water! 

READ MORE: Where Are the Best Waterfalls in the Catlins?

Are you planning a trip to the Catlins? Check out our itinerary — it’ll help you out whether you’re planning a day trip or a longer stay.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Instagram profile

Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.