Depot Creek Falls, Haast

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Hidden away by the side of the road and with no signs to pointing towards it, Depot Creek Falls is a more impressive waterfall than some of the more popular ones nearby. I’ll show you how to find this hidden spot as well as a few tips on what else to see along the Haast Pass.

Getting to Depot Creek Falls

While there are no road signs at Depot Creek Falls it is on Google Maps. It’s easy to find if you’ve got your phone handy, if not it’s around 5 km past Roaring Billy Falls heading towards Haast — 10 minutes or so further along the road from where the photo below was taken. It’s just before a small bridge and there’s rough road / driveway going up to what looks like a car park (or what will one day be a carpark).

READ MORE: The Scenic Drive from Wānaka to Haast

You should be able to hear the falls. Look for the track leading into the forest (again, no sign). The walk should take about 30 seconds – an easy place to visit once you find it.

Depot Creek Falls

The track takes you to a clearing where you’ll get an awesome view of Depot Creek Falls. There’s no track down to the water so you’ll have to be content with seeing it from there. You can’t really get another angle either — I reckon DOC will improve this place one day, but I kinda like it as it is now.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Depot Creek Falls is pretty much the last place you’d stop before reaching the coast (if coming from Wānaka). Continue for 20 minutes and you’ll reach Haast. Turn south from there for Jackson Bay or north for the glaciers and the rest of the West Coast.

There are some other waterfalls to visit along this road (Fantail Falls, Roaring Billy Falls and Thunder Creek Falls) as well as the Blue Pools (one of the prettiest stretches of river you’ll see in New Zealand) and lots of roadside mountain / river views. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the South Island so take your time and stop off at a few places along the way.

READ MORE: Top 12 Rivers in the South Island

Are you planning a trip to the New Zealand? Check out our South Island itinerary!

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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.
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