SUTHERLAND FALLS

Sutherland Falls is one of the most well-known falls in New Zealand and the world. At a height of 580 meters, Sutherland Falls is often recognized as the highest waterfall in New Zealand. However, this is in some dispute with Browns Falls also being unofficially recognized at 619 meters in height. Regardless, Sutherland Falls is a magnificent site to see.

Sutherland Falls is fed by Lake Quill, which in turn is fed by several glaciers, providing a constant flow to the falls. The falls is made up of three distinct drops of 229, 248, and 103 meters respectively.

A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation.

Some waterfalls form in mountain environments where the erosive water force is high and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as landslides, faults or volcanic action.

Typically, a river flows over a large step in the rocks that may have been formed by a fault line. As it increases its velocity at the edge of the waterfall, it plucks material from the riverbed. This causes the waterfall to carve deeper into the bed and to recede upstream. Often over time, the waterfall will recede back to form a canyon or gorge downstream as it recedes upstream, and it will carve deeper into the ridge above it.

Often, the rock stratum just below the more resistant shelf will be of a softer type, meaning that undercutting due to splashback will occur here to form a shallow cave-like formation known as a rock shelter or plunge pool under and behind the waterfall. Eventually, the outcropping, more resistant cap rock will collapse under pressure to add blocks of rock to the base of the waterfall. These blocks of rock are then broken down into smaller boulders by attrition as they collide with each other, and they also erode the base of the waterfall by abrasion, creating a deep plunge pool or gorge.

Types of Waterfalls

Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
Cataract: A large waterfall.
Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.
Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.
Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.
Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form, then spreads out in a wider pool.
Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.
Multi-Step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Getting to Sutherland Falls

Access to Sutherland Falls is limited to those walking the Milford Track, which requires reservations to walk independently or via guided walks Once you get to Quintin Lodge, drop your pack, grab your camera, and head up the trail to Sutherland Falls.

The Milford Track (53.5 km) is in the heart of spectacular Fiordland National Park, part of the Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area and is administered by DOC on behalf of the New Zealand public.

Logging requirements

In order to log this cache, you must post a photo of yourself with your GPSr and Sutherland Falls in the background. The posted coordinates will take you to a spot on the trail where you can first see the falls and gives you some perspective on the height of the falls. This spot was selected because it was hard to get a photo of the falls without the splashback from the falls interfering with the shot. You are welcome to get closer to the falls for your photo to meet the logging requirements.