Photo: Maruia Falls South Island

A picturesque view of the Maruia Falls in Maruia Falls Scenic Reserve on the South Island of New Zealand.

The Maruia Falls on the South Island of New Zealand catches you off guard with its abrupt drop on a trail that is otherwise extremely serene. These falls are stunning and are ten meter long falls on the Maruia River that originated in the Spenser Mountains on the South Island of New Zealand.The Maruia River flows for 80 kilometers before joining a larger river but the Maruia Falls are the main tourist attraction around this area of the South Island. These falls were created by the 1929 Murchison Earthquake which was a magnitude of 7.8.The earthquake dropped the bottom of the lower part of the Maruia River by less than one meter but erosion and gradual sinking of the land has caused the Maruia Falls to become the height of ten meters.The Maruia Falls are located about 15 kilometers south of Highway 6 and the Buller River. People come to the Maruia Falls on the South Island usually as a tourist destination but many people run the Maruia River in kayaks and continue over the falls. ... continue below the picture...

... The more daring types attempt fate and jump over the drop of the Maruia Falls into the pool below.Visiting Maruia Falls is the perfect way to spend a relaxing day away from the fast pace of the city life on the South Island of New Zealand.Maruia Falls, Maruia Falls Scenic Reserve, near Murchison, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand