Things to Do in the Catlins: Our Personal Tips & Highlights

What do you need to know about the Catlins?

The Catlins are a region at the very south of the South Island of New Zealand.

It’s known for a great sense of solitude and tranquility. There’s very little infrastructure, but there are truly amazing natural highlights, and it’s one of the best regions in New Zealand for spotting dolphins, seals, and penguins.

Most travelers skip the Catlins on their New Zealand road trip and drive straight from Queenstown to Dunedin.

The Catlins are simply a major detour — the drive alone from Queenstown to the Catlins and then on to Dunedin takes four hours. On top of that, you still have the drive through the Catlins themselves and plenty of stops along the way. You should plan for at least one overnight stay in the Catlins.

Since none of the typical tourist highlights of New Zealand’s South Island are located in the Catlins, most tourists don’t think it’s worth the effort.

We see it differently, though: if you love remoteness and raw nature, the Catlins are an absolute paradise — the landscape seriously blew us away!

Where are the Catlins located?

The Catlins are situated at the very southern tip of New Zealand. The region isn’t particularly large — you can drive straight through it in two hours by car.

To help you get your bearings, we’ve put together a map of the Catlins. It shows our eight highlights and where the Catlins are located within New Zealand.

Our highlights in the Catlins

We absolutely loved the Catlins, and here we’re sharing the eight most beautiful spots in the region with you. Let’s go!

Kaka Point

Kaka Point is the first town you reach when entering the Catlins from the east. There’s a café, a campground, and not much else.

But the real draw at Kaka Point is the many beautiful beaches right on the edge of town. You’ll often have the beach almost entirely to yourself. You can swim here, and it’s also one of the best surf spots in the Catlins.

There are plenty of picnic tables set up in the grass above the beach. We could have sat there forever, snacking and taking in the stunning landscape.

Kaka Point is also where the road to Nugget Point (our #2) begins. For us, it was one of the most beautiful drives we had in New Zealand: the views of the ocean, the steep coastal cliffs, and the green meadows — just incredible!

Nugget Point

Nugget Point is the top highlight of the Catlins and one of the most beautiful attractions in New Zealand. Make sure to have your camera ready — the photos here have serious Instagram potential.

The lighthouse at Nugget Point is one of the southernmost in the entire world. The view here is truly breathtaking: ocean as far as the eye can see, rugged coastal cliffs, and the small rocky islets that give Nugget Point its name.

There’s a large parking lot from which you walk about ten minutes to the lighthouse. The path isn’t particularly steep and is manageable even with a stroller.

Our tip: A short distance before the Nugget Point parking lot, there’s a bay along the roadside. This is where you’ll find a beach with a viewing platform for the penguins that nest in the bay. Keep in mind that the penguins don’t appear until late afternoon.

Cannibal Bay

Cannibal Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Catlins.

But what makes this beach truly special has nothing to do with the scenery. At Cannibal Bay, you can watch wild seals in their natural habitat.

Keep a close eye out: when the seals are sleeping in the sand, they look remarkably like rocks — and they really don’t appreciate being stumbled over.

You should always keep several yards of distance from the animals and never block their path to the ocean. Seals may look like fluffy stuffed animals, but they can become aggressive when they feel threatened. And they’re much faster than we ever would have given them credit for.

Important: The last stretch to Cannibal Bay is about 15 minutes on a gravel road. It’s totally manageable, though, as long as you drive slowly.

McLean Falls

New Zealand wouldn’t be New Zealand without a beautiful waterfall — and the Catlins are no exception.

In fact, the Catlins have not one but three waterfalls: McLean Falls, Matai Falls, and Purakaunui Falls. McLean Falls is the most impressive and the tallest, though also the most visited (relatively speaking, since the Catlins don’t get many visitors in general).

McLean Falls drops a whopping 22 meters and then cascades over beautiful rock formations — a fantastic photo opportunity!

There’s a large parking lot, and from there it’s about a 40-minute walk to the falls.

Cathedral Caves

We had truly never seen a cave as large as Cathedral Caves. It’s actually two interconnected caves, and together they are 200 meters long and 30 meters high.

They got their name because their ceiling is as awe-inspiring as a real cathedral’s.

To visit the cave, you need to buy a ticket for 10 dollars. That price also covers free parking at the Cathedral Caves parking lot. From there, it’s another good 30-minute walk.

Important: Opening times change every day, because you can only visit the caves within one hour before and after low tide. You can find the times on the official Cathedral Caves website.

Purpoise Bay

Purpoise Bay is a very long, U-shaped sandy beach. There are plenty of cows here, a small village, and a whole lot of peace and quiet.

In summer, it’s a great spot for swimming and sometimes even surfing.

Similar to Cannibal Bay, most people come to Purpoise Bay for a different reason. This is where Hector’s dolphins show up, especially in spring. They’re the smallest dolphin species in the world and are found only around New Zealand. Sometimes they’ll swim right up to you while you’re in the water and play alongside you.

Just on the other side of the bay is Curio Bay. Here you can also spot little yellow-eyed penguins. But more on that in our next highlight.

Curio Bay

Curio Bay sits right next to Purpoise Bay. Here you’ll find a truly unique natural phenomenon: a petrified forest.

We were a little puzzled at first, since we had imagined an actual forest with trees and everything that goes along with them. But the petrified forest is a fossil forest and looks much more like rock. If you look closely, though, you can make out shapes like tree trunks.

The forest is about 180 million years old and was petrified by multiple volcanic eruptions.

Wooden stairs lead down to the “forest,” and entry is completely free. There’s a large parking lot, and from there a long path runs along the coast.

Important: You can only see the petrified forest at low tide. Otherwise, it’s hidden beneath the water’s surface.

Our tip: If you visit the petrified forest at sunset, you also have a chance of spotting the little yellow-eyed penguins here.

Slope Point

Slope Point is the southernmost point of New Zealand. Between the South Pole and Slope Point, only Stewart Island and Antarctica stand in the way.

From the parking lot near Slope Point, you’ll walk about ten minutes across private farmland. Between September and November, access is prohibited because the sheep are lambing and shouldn’t be disturbed.

There isn’t a whole lot at Slope Point. A cool view of the wild sea and the obligatory photo with the sign showing the distances to the South Pole and the equator. It’s one of those places you visit simply so you can say you’ve been there.

Where to stay near the Catlins

Since there are no larger towns within the Catlins itself, accommodation options are extremely limited — especially if you’re looking for a comfortable, welcoming place to stay. We did find a few, though.

Alternatively, Invercargill and Balclutha are solid options for staying near the Catlins. Invercargill is about 50 minutes west of the Catlins and is a proper city. Not incredibly beautiful, but it has plenty of restaurants, cafés, and shopping.

Balclutha is on the eastern side of the Catlins, about 20 minutes away. It’s much smaller than Invercargill, but has everything you need for a few nights.

Our hotel picks right in the Catlins:

Our hotel picks for Balclutha:

Our hotel picks for Invercargill:

Practical travel tips for visiting the Catlins

To wrap things up, we’re answering the most common questions about the Catlins. Let’s go!

When is the best time to visit the Catlins?

You can visit the Catlins any time of year. Just be aware that weather-wise, the Catlins are one of the most unpredictable and cool regions in New Zealand.

Heavy downpours and storms are common even in summer. We strongly recommend layering up so you’re prepared for any kind of weather. Temperatures range from around 77°F in summer to about 50°F in winter.

How many days should you plan for the Catlins?

The drive straight through the Catlins takes just two hours. So in theory, you could explore the Catlins on a day trip.

We recommend planning for at least one overnight stay, and ideally two. Aside from the fact that there are simply so many beautiful places to see in the Catlins, there are two main reasons for this.

First, you need to allow some time if you want to spot dolphins or penguins. They’re not around all day, and you often have to wait a few hours before you see any.

Second, the charm of the Catlins lies in its extreme remoteness, and we can’t recommend highly enough spending a night in a campervan or a secluded lodge.

How good is the infrastructure in the Catlins?

Honestly, not great! The Catlins have virtually no gas stations, supermarkets, restaurants, or hotels. We strongly recommend taking care of fuel, food supplies, and accommodation before you arrive.

The nearest larger towns with real infrastructure are Balclutha (about 20 minutes away) and Invercargill (about 50 minutes away).

You’ll find more tips on driving in New Zealand and lots of other practical advice in our New Zealand travel tips.

What are the road conditions like in the Catlins?

There aren’t many roads in the Catlins. The ones that do exist are in genuinely good condition — no massive potholes like you’d find, for example, in Northland, New Zealand.

The last stretch to some of the beaches is on gravel roads. We found, however, that these are manageable even in a regular car, as long as you drive slowly and carefully.

Is there cell service in the Catlins?

Large parts of the Catlins have no cell service or internet. We recommend downloading a map ahead of time so you can navigate even without GPS if needed.

Where in the Catlins can you see wildlife?

In the Catlins you can spot dolphins, seals, and yellow-eyed penguins. With all of them, you’ll need a bit of luck, since the animals aren’t around all day. Your best bet is to pack some snacks and make yourself comfortable on the beach.

Here are the best spots to see wildlife in the Catlins:

• Nugget Point: seals and penguins
• Cannibal Bay: seals
• Purpoise Bay: dolphins and seals
• Waipapa Point: seals