Iris Burn Waterfall

By Kirill Polishchuk

Iris Burn Waterfall

By Kirill Polishchuk

Iris Burn Waterfall is a charming horsetail waterfall accessible on the 2-nd day of the spectacular Kepler Track. It’s reached after a 20-minutes’ walk from the Iris Burn Hut. It's the only waterfall which you'll see along the Kepler Track.

Driving and walking conditions
GPS of the view point:	S 45° 23' 45.3582" E 167° 29' 44.5662"
Parking:	Rainbow Reach Rd, Te Anau, Southland
Vehicle type:	Track type:
Road type: Sealed	Return track duration: 4days
Waterfall parameters
Waterfall height: 15m	Type of the waterfall: Horsetail

Rating:       ⭐⭐⭐
GPS:          S 45° 23' 45.3582" E 167° 29' 44.5662"
Parking:     Rainbow Reach Rd, Te Anau, Southland
Access:     4days return walk

Walking and driving instructions

Iris Burn Waterfall is roughly a 15 minutes’ drive away from Te Anau or 2-hours’ from Queenstown. The road surface is always sealed. You can start the track from either the end of Rainbow Reach Rd or from Golf Course Rd.

From Te Anau travel south-west on the SH-95 for 12km. Turn right into Rainbow Reach Rd and stay on it until you reach a huge parking at the end of Rainbow Reach Rd (1.5km). There are picnic tables and toilets available there. The parking on Golf Course Rd has all the facilities as well. You can leave your car here or, which is safer if you’re doing 4-days Kepler Track, organize a transport from/to Te Anau.

To stay overnight at huts or campsites on Kepler you must have a booking prior to starting the track (during the winter season you don't need to make a booking but you need to pay with a backcountry hut tickets). Camping or staying overnight in the shelters at Forest Burn and Hanging Valley is not permitted.

If you start Kepler track from the Rainbow Reach Rd, you'll cross a Suspension Bridge, then turn left towards to the Lake Manapouri. Usually, you reach the Iris Burn hut on the second day of the journey and stay there or on the campsite overnight.

From Iris Burn Hut, a 20-minutes’ stroll leads to Iris Burn Waterfall. After a long day walk you can swim in the swimming hole close to the waterfall.