Devils Punchbowl Walking Track
Arthur's Pass
Your Nature Guide
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Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
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Nau mai, haere mai
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Information
Devils Punchbowl Walking Track
2 km return | 1 hour return
A 131 metre waterfall thundering from a hanging valley. Evocatively named, these are especially impressive after heavy rain.
Walking Track
Timing
The falls are especially impressive after heavy rain.
Access
The start of the track is signposted from the carpark at the top end of the village.
Track
Cross the footbridge over Bealey River then head right at the junction to Punchbowl Bridge.
An elaborate set of staircases navigate the bluff, passing the junction with Aicken Track before descending to the viewing platform at the base of the falls.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC CanterburyCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Arthur's Pass |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Seen in all its glory after heavy rain fall!
Worth the climb …. Spectacular view from the top! Beautifully maintained track
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(103,211,234)" /><path d="m 150 567 Q 206 94 -267 150 Q 206 206 150 -267 Q 94 206 567 150 Q 94 94 150 567 z" fill="rgb(100,68,242)" /><path d="m 150 436 Q 125 175 -136 150 Q 125 125 150 -136 Q 175 125 436 150 Q 175 175 150 436 z" fill="rgb(155,187,13)" /><path d="m 150 331 Q 91 209 -31 150 Q 91 91 150 -31 Q 209 91 331 150 Q 209 209 150 331 z" fill="rgb(152,44,21)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Glad we stopped for this one.
Stunning blue sky day, lots of steps but well worth the efforts. Great walk if you are keen to keep driving further for the day.
P![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(187,19,154)" /><path d="m 150 744 Q 267 33 -444 150 Q 267 267 150 -444 Q 33 267 744 150 Q 33 33 150 744 z" fill="rgb(222,238,228)" /><path d="m 150 528 Q 55 245 -228 150 Q 55 55 150 -228 Q 245 55 528 150 Q 245 245 150 528 z" fill="rgb(33,17,27)" /><path d="m 150 333 Q 180 120 -33 150 Q 180 180 150 -33 Q 120 180 333 150 Q 120 120 150 333 z" fill="rgb(68,236,101)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
One hour return walk up to a great waterfall.
Lots of steps so you need rest time and water. Accessible and beautiful waterfall!!
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4.5/5
A beautiful walk up and down through the hills and at the end an incredible and strong waterfall.
Amazing, in the loneliness and a beautiful view!!
S![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(222,160,157)" /><path d="m 150 630 Q 283 17 -330 150 Q 283 283 150 -330 Q 17 283 630 150 Q 17 17 150 630 z" fill="rgb(99,246,244)" /><path d="m 150 477 Q 108 192 -177 150 Q 108 108 150 -177 Q 192 108 477 150 Q 192 192 150 477 z" fill="rgb(156,9,11)" /><path d="m 150 125 Q 244 56 175 150 Q 244 244 150 175 Q 56 244 125 150 Q 56 56 150 125 z" fill="rgb(33,95,98)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Amazing walk to a 131m high waterfall.
Impressive and would have been great to take a shower there.
M![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(6,245,200)" /><path d="m 150 523 Q 218 82 -223 150 Q 218 218 150 -223 Q 82 218 523 150 Q 82 82 150 523 z" fill="rgb(251,237,70)" /><path d="m 150 343 Q 173 127 -43 150 Q 173 173 150 -43 Q 127 173 343 150 Q 127 127 150 343 z" fill="rgb(4,18,185)" /><path d="m 150 232 Q 178 122 68 150 Q 178 178 150 68 Q 122 178 232 150 Q 122 122 150 232 z" fill="rgb(249,10,55)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Must see in New Zealand!!
The walk was not long and the waterfall is just awesome!! Highly recommend it!!
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4.5/5
It was a really nice track with lots of staircases.
The view of the waterfall was very beautiful.
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5.0/5
A really good walk as described.
Pathways, steps etc well maintained and safe to negotiate. Typical good attention to detail as provided with most DOC walks.
SG![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(153,74,85)" /><path d="m 150 548 Q 148 152 -248 150 Q 148 148 150 -248 Q 152 148 548 150 Q 152 152 150 548 z" fill="rgb(152,241,172)" /><path d="m 150 334 Q 140 160 -34 150 Q 140 140 150 -34 Q 160 140 334 150 Q 160 160 150 334 z" fill="rgb(103,14,83)" /><path d="m 150 320 Q 111 189 -20 150 Q 111 111 150 -20 Q 189 111 320 150 Q 189 189 150 320 z" fill="rgb(102,181,170)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
An hours walk to see the waterfall.
Quite a steep walk with steps leading to a viewing platform really close to the waterfall. Nice spot for pictures. Lots of parking and easily signposted from the village.
VK![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(79,205,204)" /><path d="m 150 694 Q 113 187 -394 150 Q 113 113 150 -394 Q 187 113 694 150 Q 187 187 150 694 z" fill="rgb(107,53,207)" /><path d="m 150 370 Q 236 64 -70 150 Q 236 236 150 -70 Q 64 236 370 150 Q 64 64 150 370 z" fill="rgb(148,202,48)" /><path d="m 150 198 Q 252 48 102 150 Q 252 252 150 102 Q 48 252 198 150 Q 48 48 150 198 z" fill="rgb(176,50,51)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great hike through the bush and up a lot of steps.
A few beautiful bridge crossings and the waterfall was amazing. Be sure to bring rain gear. It is really wet at Vista Point!
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4.0/5
Nice short walk with a beautiful waterfall at the end.
Take your swimsuit with you! There is a kind of pool right underneath the waterfall.
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3.0/5
Nice walk.
Lots of steps and nice waterfall. Good way to spend some time but do not expect too much of it.
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4.5/5
One hour walk to the waterfall, beautiful nature, good views, large waterfall, not too many visitors.
P![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(18,77,128)" /><path d="m 150 723 Q 272 28 -423 150 Q 272 272 150 -423 Q 28 272 723 150 Q 28 28 150 723 z" fill="rgb(35,212,250)" /><path d="m 150 339 Q 267 33 -39 150 Q 267 267 150 -39 Q 33 267 339 150 Q 33 33 150 339 z" fill="rgb(220,43,5)" /><path d="m 150 343 Q 93 207 -43 150 Q 93 93 150 -43 Q 207 93 343 150 Q 207 207 150 343 z" fill="rgb(237,178,127)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(239,117,94)" /><path d="m 150 722 Q 214 86 -422 150 Q 214 214 150 -422 Q 86 214 722 150 Q 86 86 150 722 z" fill="rgb(114,56,6)" /><path d="m 150 480 Q 54 246 -180 150 Q 54 54 150 -180 Q 246 54 480 150 Q 246 246 150 480 z" fill="rgb(141,199,249)" /><path d="m 150 336 Q 229 71 -36 150 Q 229 229 150 -36 Q 71 229 336 150 Q 71 71 150 336 z" fill="rgb(16,138,161)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(73,138,182)" /><path d="m 150 574 Q 95 205 -274 150 Q 95 95 150 -274 Q 205 95 574 150 Q 205 205 150 574 z" fill="rgb(36,125,141)" /><path d="m 150 426 Q 109 191 -126 150 Q 109 109 150 -126 Q 191 109 426 150 Q 191 191 150 426 z" fill="rgb(219,130,114)" /><path d="m 150 119 Q 246 54 181 150 Q 246 246 150 181 Q 54 246 119 150 Q 54 54 150 119 z" fill="rgb(182,117,73)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(161,178,198)" /><path d="m 150 626 Q 222 78 -326 150 Q 222 222 150 -326 Q 78 222 626 150 Q 78 78 150 626 z" fill="rgb(181,186,247)" /><path d="m 150 454 Q 78 222 -154 150 Q 78 78 150 -154 Q 222 78 454 150 Q 222 222 150 454 z" fill="rgb(74,69,8)" /><path d="m 150 253 Q 113 187 47 150 Q 113 113 150 47 Q 187 113 253 150 Q 187 187 150 253 z" fill="rgb(94,77,57)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(183,129,105)" /><path d="m 150 551 Q 245 55 -251 150 Q 245 245 150 -251 Q 55 245 551 150 Q 55 55 150 551 z" fill="rgb(222,245,198)" /><path d="m 150 428 Q 293 7 -128 150 Q 293 293 150 -128 Q 7 293 428 150 Q 7 7 150 428 z" fill="rgb(33,10,57)" /><path d="m 150 311 Q 279 21 -11 150 Q 279 279 150 -11 Q 21 279 311 150 Q 21 21 150 311 z" fill="rgb(72,126,150)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(43,103,132)" /><path d="m 150 611 Q 77 223 -311 150 Q 77 77 150 -311 Q 223 77 611 150 Q 223 223 150 611 z" fill="rgb(237,206,71)" /><path d="m 150 493 Q 156 144 -193 150 Q 156 156 150 -193 Q 144 156 493 150 Q 144 144 150 493 z" fill="rgb(18,49,184)" /><path d="m 150 293 Q 65 235 7 150 Q 65 65 150 7 Q 235 65 293 150 Q 235 235 150 293 z" fill="rgb(212,152,123)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(242,6,231)" /><path d="m 150 552 Q 155 145 -252 150 Q 155 155 150 -252 Q 145 155 552 150 Q 145 145 150 552 z" fill="rgb(245,194,120)" /><path d="m 150 465 Q 180 120 -165 150 Q 180 180 150 -165 Q 120 180 465 150 Q 120 120 150 465 z" fill="rgb(10,61,135)" /><path d="m 150 237 Q 131 169 63 150 Q 131 131 150 63 Q 169 131 237 150 Q 169 169 150 237 z" fill="rgb(13,249,24)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(188,163,2)" /><path d="m 150 696 Q 243 57 -396 150 Q 243 243 150 -396 Q 57 243 696 150 Q 57 57 150 696 z" fill="rgb(116,170,163)" /><path d="m 150 467 Q 206 94 -167 150 Q 206 206 150 -167 Q 94 206 467 150 Q 94 94 150 467 z" fill="rgb(139,85,92)" /><path d="m 150 273 Q 113 187 27 150 Q 113 113 150 27 Q 187 113 273 150 Q 187 187 150 273 z" fill="rgb(67,92,253)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Seen in all its glory after heavy rain fall!
Worth the climb …. Spectacular view from the top! Beautifully maintained track
M -
5.0/5
Glad we stopped for this one.
Stunning blue sky day, lots of steps but well worth the efforts. Great walk if you are keen to keep driving further for the day.
P -
4.5/5
One hour return walk up to a great waterfall.
Lots of steps so you need rest time and water. Accessible and beautiful waterfall!!
-
-
-
4.5/5
A beautiful walk up and down through the hills and at the end an incredible and strong waterfall.
Amazing, in the loneliness and a beautiful view!!
S -
4.5/5
Amazing walk to a 131m high waterfall.
Impressive and would have been great to take a shower there.
M -
5.0/5
Must see in New Zealand!!
The walk was not long and the waterfall is just awesome!! Highly recommend it!!
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4.5/5
It was a really nice track with lots of staircases.
The view of the waterfall was very beautiful.
-
-
4.0/5
An hours walk to see the waterfall.
Quite a steep walk with steps leading to a viewing platform really close to the waterfall. Nice spot for pictures. Lots of parking and easily signposted from the village.
VK -
5.0/5
A really good walk as described.
Pathways, steps etc well maintained and safe to negotiate. Typical good attention to detail as provided with most DOC walks.
SG -
5.0/5
Great hike through the bush and up a lot of steps.
A few beautiful bridge crossings and the waterfall was amazing. Be sure to bring rain gear. It is really wet at Vista Point!
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3.0/5
Nice walk.
Lots of steps and nice waterfall. Good way to spend some time but do not expect too much of it.
-
4.5/5
One hour walk to the waterfall, beautiful nature, good views, large waterfall, not too many visitors.
P -
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4.0/5
Nice short walk with a beautiful waterfall at the end.
Take your swimsuit with you! There is a kind of pool right underneath the waterfall.
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4.0/5
A terrific workout - it is all steps - with spectacular scenery to take your mind off tired muscles.
Swimming hole at the top looked great and the falls are spectacular.
HB![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(141,111,160)" /><path d="m 150 738 Q 129 171 -438 150 Q 129 129 150 -438 Q 171 129 738 150 Q 171 171 150 738 z" fill="rgb(155,213,235)" /><path d="m 150 350 Q 77 223 -50 150 Q 77 77 150 -50 Q 223 77 350 150 Q 223 223 150 350 z" fill="rgb(100,42,20)" /><path d="m 150 187 Q 81 219 113 150 Q 81 81 150 113 Q 219 81 187 150 Q 219 219 150 187 z" fill="rgb(114,144,95)" /></svg>)
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