McLean Falls is on the Tautuku River in the Catlins, located within Catlins Conservation Park. To reach the falls, turn north off the Southern Scenic Route onto Rewcastle Road, 1 km west of the access road to Cathedral Caves. Drive down gravel Rewcastle Road through farmland for 3 km to the car park at the forest margin.
From the car park, it is a 20-minute walk through regenerating forest to the stunning multi-level 22-metre waterfall. There are other attractive but smaller falls on the walk, one of which is named The Chute. The walk is slightly uphill, but it’s an easy track for almost everyone. Towards the end of the track, a sign warns not to stop due to the risk of rock falls. The safe viewing platform is shortly beyond this.
The forest regrowth, while lacking big trees, has its attractions. Watch out for the hakeke (olearia or tree daisy) early on the track. It is uncommon on forest walking tracks and has small daisy flowers in early summer. The horopito, usually a forest margin shrub, is also very colourful with green to orange and red leaves. Take a chew on the leaves for a spicy, chile-like pepper experience. As you get further in, the forest becomes a typical Catlins rainforest, with big kōtukutuku (fuschia trees) and distorted kamahi, with everything covered in moss and lichen.
You will also see a detailed obituary of Alexander Mclean along the track, for whom it was named. He provided access to the falls before there was a formed track and had a generally interesting life. At the start of the track, you will cross a footbridge over Duckaday Creek. This was named after another Mclean, early settler Doug McLean, who would bathe there.
A commercial campground and cafe/restaurant are immediately on the left as you turn into Rewcastle Road. This is the only place to eat and camp in the Catlins between Papatowai and Niagara/Curio Bay.
