Mt Damper - Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand?

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Mt Damper - Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand?

by Rebecca A.
(New Zealand)

Regarding the Mt Damper Falls in New Zealand, Wairere is obviously taller but the locals in Taranaki claim Mt Damper to be the "longest single drop" Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand? I live on the farm at Mt Damper, if people ask me I like to know what I'm talking about so if you could clear this up, that would be awesome.

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Mt Damper - Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand?

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Aug 28, 2010
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Is Mt Damper the highest?
by: cr

This raises a number of questions. First, 'single drop'. If one takes the presence of adjacent upper or lower tiers
to invalidate this, then most high falls (including, arguably, Mt Damper) are ruled out.

I'd prefer to take it as the height of the highest single tier (your Interpretation 1).

Next, the height of Mt Damper Falls - I've seen it quoted as 84m (which probably includes the little fall above) or 75m.
I'll assume the main drop is 75m (but it won't make much difference).

Now when it comes to the highest *in New Zealand*, that includes South Island and, as with most things scenic, nothing in North
Island stands a chance. Springing to mind are Devil's Punchbowl Falls, a number of other falls around Arthurs Pass that have
heights over 100m on the map (Rough Creek, Bridal Veil Creek, Twin Creek) and probably a main drop over 80m; Sutherland Falls as mentioned,
Humboldt Falls - 275m in three drops, the bottom one is probably well over 90m; Bowen Falls in Milford Sound at 162m; and Stirling
Falls which is a sheer drop of 151m. There are certainly others.

As for North Island, there are Wairere Falls at 153m, Ananui Falls at 105m, Waitakere Falls at 95m, so Mt Damper is fourth in total height.
The upper tier of Wairere is almost certainly over 75m. Ananui Falls is a single drop, so is Waitakere Falls. So that puts Mt Damper
fourth in North Island single drops as well.

If you define 'single drop' to mean a sheer drop, clear of the cliff, then Ananui and Waitakere drop out because they are very steep cascades.
So Mt Damper can claim the second highest sheer drop in North Island. Or, as DOC put it, 'one of the highest falls in North Island'.

It is an impressive waterfall, though.

Aug 17, 2010
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Tallest Single Drop Waterfalls
by: World of Waterfalls

There needs to be a clarification on what is meant by "tallest single drop waterfall." Does it mean:
1. any single drop (within a multi-drop waterfall)?
Or
2. single drop as in a waterfall with only one drop and no other subtiers?

Based on interpretation 1., I'm sure Sutherland Falls has subtiers are easily taller than Mt Damper Falls (580m split up in 3 drops). Even under this criteria, I think Wairere Falls might also surpass Mt Damper as well (though this is simply based on taking 153m and splitting it up into 2 tiers).

Based on interpretation 2., I think Devils Punchbowl Falls at 131m (or is it 161m?) might be the one that blows away Mt Damper. However, there is a question whether even this is a truly single-drop waterfall (where do you draw the line as to whether a tiny rapids or 5m tier above or below the falls should count)? Or, how about Helena Falls?

These are the ones that are coming to mind at the moment. I'm sure others more familiar with waterfalls in New Zealand might offer up even more opinions or suggestions. My apologies for not providing a definitive answer as I can't confidently give one.

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Mt Damper - Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand?

Comments for Mt Damper - Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand?

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Mt Damper - Are there bigger "single drop" waterfalls in New Zealand?