Purakaunui Falls, The Catlins, Otago

Purakaunui Falls is probably the most photographed waterfall in New Zealand, its graceful cataracts attracting thousands of tourists every year and featuring in countless postcards, books and calendars. Part of this popularity no doubt relates to its accessibility, just a short walk down an easy track from the main road near Papatowai, making it an easy side trip for even the most time-conscious traveller – even though a rushed five-minute visit to these falls is probably the worst way to appreciate them.

Being located in the Catlins, one of the more cloud-prone parts of New Zealand, also makes Purakaunui Falls particularly attractive for photographers because the soft diffuse light under an overcast sky is perfect for capturing images in the bush. On this particular day I was lucky enough to have a completely overcast sky with very little wind, making for perfect conditions to photograph these falls in all their glory.