5 Epic Spots In The Catlins, New Zealand
We wanted to end our New Zealand experience with a slower pace for the last few days, and where else is better to do that then The Catlins? Endless beaches, waterfalls, wildlife, and sun is the perfect way to unwind on your New Zealand vacation. Here are 5 EPIC spots in The Catlins you should put on your New Zealand roadtrip (plus more information about a roadtrip in The Catlins below):
- Nugget Point Lighthouse
- Purakaunui Falls
- Purakaunui Bay (& Campsite!)
- Florence Hill Lookout
- Cathedral Caves
Where are The Catlins?
The Catlins are located on New Zealands South Island, in between the Balclutha and Invercargill locations. We did this at the end of our South Island Road Trip, before dropping off our campervan in Dunedin. Although it looks like a large area, the drive in between stops are not too long so you can really squeeze in many activities into a few days.
About The Catlins
The Catlins ended up being one of our favourite places in New Zealand. We had been chasing some sun and relaxation and The Catlins were the best way to top off our campervanning trip. To our surprise, not many people actually headed down this way. There is so much to see and do in New Zealand, and The Catlins (more often than not) can get overlooked.
The Catlins region is known for their wildlife, beaches, waterfalls, and so much more. The region follows the Southern Scenic route, so its a super easy road to follow with all the hot spot locations clearly marked along the route.
Our Must-Sees In The Catlins
We only had a few days in The Catlins, but here is what we did and recommend!
1. Nugget Point Lighthouse
This location is probably one of the most popular in the region, and for good reason. Despite its popularity, I would still highly recommend this activity. Its about a 20 minute walk with amazing coastal views the entire way.
The drive to the parking lot itself is amazing in itself – you may even see some seals taking in some sun along the many beaches. I would recommend going here in the early or late hours of the day to avoid the peak hours as it is a popular spot. We went around 5-6pm and whilst there were many cars in the parking lot (parking was free), we were able to get some shots of the lighthouse with noone else in it.
Location here
2. Purakaunui Falls
This 20 minute walk will lead you to one of the most scenic waterfalls! Its an easy walk with a rewarding view. Because its a short walk it doesnt feel too busy as people are in an out quickly. There is a free parking lot with toilets right across from the start of the walk.
Location here
3. Purakaunui Bay
Whilst you could do this as a beach day, I would high recommend doing this an overnight camping spot! We stayed here for one night and it was the most beautiful camping spot you could imagine. Being steps away from the beach during sunset was something else.
Whilst it was a bit of a drive to get to, it was SO worth it. The camping area is just off the beach on a grassy area where you basically just pull up in your car / campervan / caravan and set up for the night. If you want the best spots you will have to try and get there as early as possible. We arrived later in the day and still were able to snag a relatively secluded spot with some views of the beach and cliff area. You are minutes away from the beach which you can swim, relax, or walk around the coast line.
You do have to reserve this and as always, I would recommend doing it in advance to avoid dissapointment but I didnt find it to be too busy (but we did reserve during mid-jan during the weekdays, weekdays tend to be less busy). There are toilets on site and non-treated water.
Location here
Reserve here
4. Florence Hill Lookout
This one is a quick and easy stop on the Southern Scenic Route as it is just a side road that you pull into before pulling right back onto the main route again and you get some AMAZING views. There is a bench to sit on and panaromanic views over the coastline. Take a 10 minute break to pull over and enjoy this lookout!
We also saw some cows having some water on the opposite side of the lookout which was super cute.
Location here
5. Cathedral Caves
At low tide, you can head down to Waipati Beach and explore a huge stretch of cave and rock formations. Once you arrive at the location (again, just off the Southern Scenic Route) you will drive up to the gate to pay for your access (it was 10$ per person for us) and you will have parking available. You will need to walk about 1km through the forested area to get down to the beach, but once you get down there the views are non-stop!
At low tide the water created a reflective surface and the beach itself had such clear water – it was great for swimming. There was another long stretch of caves and cliff formations to explore, we really spent a good hour or two here but you could easily spend more. I recommend bringing your swim gear down so you can enjoy the beach, sun, and the ocean whilst you are down there. Although the walk was a long one (after walking to the beach, on the beach, and back to the car park) we did do the entire thing in flip flops because we knew we would be able to be barefoot on the beach. There are washrooms at the top but not at the bottom so keep that in mind!
You can only access this location during low-tide so make sure to keep the timings in consideration when you are planning a visit. The access timings are listed on the website linked below.
Location here
Find out times and more information here
Places To Stay In The Catlins
The Catlins have the BEST campervanning spots, and alot of them are actually freedom camping spots meaning they come at almost no charge. We found our camping spots using the CamperMate application and also through the DOC (Department of Conservation) New Zealand website.
Here were the places we stayed during our few day stay which we would recommend:
1. Purakaunui Bay Campsite
We already mentioned this above as a day trip to the beach, but if you’re looking for some place to stay the night I would highly recommend working this location into your roadtrip for an overnight stop! This is a DOC campsite so there is a small fee – but for 10$ (per person, per night) it seems like a small fee to stay somewhere like this.
Location here
Reserve here
2. Toko Mouth Campsite
We were lucky enough to find this campsite on the CamperMate application and it was so much more than we were expecting. It is quite a drive to get to this location but definitely worth it for an overnight stop.
The campsite itself is inside the small beach town and is basically a large area of grass that can accomodate a large number of campervans / cars / etc. Literally a two minute walk away is the longest stretch of beach that feels like you could walk forever. We went out to the beach during the day, and again at sunset, and it was such a great spot. The town is also really small and quiet, we only ran into a few other people.
As mentioned, this was found using the CamperMate application and was a donation-based campsite.
Location here
3. Kaka Point AA Camping Grounds
Whilst the campground is great with great bathroom and common room facilities, the reason I would recommend this is because of the location. It is a 5 minute walk to stretches of beaches along the coast that are great for relaxing, swimming, or surfing. It is also a short (and stunning) 10 minute drive to the Nugget Point Lighthouse – so if you want to get up early to see the sunrise (or a late sunset) at the lighthouse, there isnt too much of a need to stress about the timings to get there.
Location here
Reserve here
How Long Should You Spend Here?
If you are roadtripping through I would recommend spending approximately 2-3 days here. Whilst you could hit the hot spots in one day, you won’t get a feel for the place or truly get to experience the area.
When To Visit The Catlins?
The best time to visit The Catlins would be during the summer, as the better the weather the more you will have to enjoy here! Summer months in New Zealand are December to February, but keep in mind this is peak tourism period AND the locals school and summer holidays so plan in advance where possible.
How To Get Around The Catlins?
You really need your own car or campervan to explore everything The Catlins has to offer. We rented our campervan through Southern Campers which allowed us to drop off our campervan in Dunedin (at the airport) right when our trip was over. We overall had a great experience with them.
More Information
- More information about the Southern Scenic Route here
- We recommend using the CamperMate application if you are roadtripping to find some great overnight locations.
