20 Best Things to do in The Catlins New Zealand

The Catlins region in the far southeastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand is a place where land rises sharply from the coast to the inland ranges. ‘Where the forest meets the ocean’ is how locals also describe the Catlins. The rugged coastline with wide sandy beaches, lush, ancient forests with mossy trees, an abundance of waterfalls and rivers and both hilly and rolling green farmland offers a lot of amazing things to explore. The Catlins is a beautiful region and a bit off the beaten track. Therefore it’s a perfect place for nature lovers because not a lot of people visit the Catlins area. Read in our complete guide the 20 best things to do in the Catlins to plan your perfect Catlins road trip in New Zealand.

Table of Contents

20 BEST THINGS TO DO IN THE CATLINS

Walk through a mossy forest to Koropuku Falls

The Koropuku Falls are some of the Catlins waterfalls you have to visit! If you only have time to visit one or two waterfalls in the Catlins, then Koropuku should be one of them. This charming, fairytale-like waterfall can be found in the western part of Catlins Conservation Park, along the scenic Chaslands Highway.

Although Koropuku Falls is only 10 meters high (about 33 ft), it might sound not too impressive. But the scenery, the walk towards the falls through the mossy forest and the perfect silk curtain-like waterfall with lush surroundings make Koropuku Falls a gem.

How to get to Koropuku falls

The Koropuku Falls are located in Catlins Conservation Park along Chaslands Highway. These are roughly a 1.5-hour drive away from Invercargill or a 2-hour drive from Dunedin. The road is a well-maintained sealed road. The GPS of the trailhead is S 46° 34.717′ E 169° 13.162’ or just put the location into Google Maps. Look out for a small wooden sign saying ‘Koropuku Falls’ (NOT a DOC sign) with a small pullover bay. Here you can park your car and start the walk. It is about a 10 – 15 minute walk to the falls over a dirt path with logs. Sometimes it can be a bit muddy after rainfall. There are no facilities such as toilets here.

Read in our complete guide everything about the Koropuku Falls

Watch sunrise from the Fortrose Cliffs

The cliffs at Fortrose provide a stunning lookout point over the ocean, the rugged coastline of the Catlins, and a stunning, untouched beach. The Fortrose Cliffs are located 2km south of Fortrose Township and follow a gravel road until you get to the cliffs. From here you can watch a beautiful sunrise which is what we did. But of course, you can also visit during the day for a stop to breathe in the fresh air of the ocean.

Visit Waipapa Point Lighthouse

Waipapa Point Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse in this far southwest corner of The Catlins. It’s a great spot for a walk along the scenic sand dunes and rugged coastline. You can spot marine wildlife such as sea lions and several types of birds. Waipapa Point Lighthouse is definitely a photogenic place with the surrounding scrub and steps leading to the red door of the lighthouse. Although the lighthouse is not open for public access, there are enough great things to explore in the direct area.

Read in our complete guide everything about Waipapa Point Lighthouse

How to get to Waipapa Point Lighthouse

From Invercargill, it’s a 45-minute drive to Waipapa Point along a sealed road. Along the Fortrose Otara road, you will see a sign pointing towards Waipapa Point lighthouse which is then only a 4km each way detour from the highway.

The road stays sealed all the way to the spacious car park which has toilet facilities and sign boards which tell you where to go.

Book a day trip to Stewart Island

Stewart Island is New Zealand’s third-largest island, located about 30 kilometers south of the South Island. From the Catlins you can perfectly visit Stewart Island during a day trip when taking the ferry from Bluff. You will cross the Foveaux Strait before setting foot on this beautiful nature reserve. Because it is not possible to bring your own car on the ferry, you can rent cars and motor scooters at the Oban Visitor Centre.

There are many things to do on Stewart Island. Because the island is known to be a haven for the brown kiwi or Tokoeka, you can book this great tour to spot the native kiwi bird of New Zealand. Other species you can see on Stewart Island are blue penguins and the rare yellow-eyed penguins.

You can also book other tours to Stewart Island to see more of this beautiful island off the coast of the Catlins.

Check here all tours to Stewart Island on GetYourGuide

Check here all tours to Stewart Island on Viator

Waipohatu waterfall walk

The Waipohatu waterfall walk is a stunning 7-kilometre loop walk in the Catlins Forest Park taking you to two stunning Catlins waterfalls. It’s a great mix between a lush rainforest walk with bits of muddy uphill and downhill track with the Waipohatu waterfalls as points of interest. While the walk starts off as a gentle stroll through stunning rainforest, it will soon become more challenging with plenty of tree roots, muddy, slippery parts and some stairs.

Although the trail is quite easy to follow without much incline, only 330 meters elevation gain, there are some slippery parts where you have to take care. It’s a great family-friendly forest walk, but be prepared with good hiking shoes. Otherwise it’s going to be a challenge to not slip.

Be insured when you travel!

No matter how careful you are, accidents can happen.
A slip during hiking is made before you realize it, and the consequences can be bigger than you want to think of.

We are very happy with SafetyWing and highly recommend getting an insurance with them!

Pouriwai Falls

The Pouriwai waterfall is a tall 10 meter high waterfall flanked by a moss covered cliff. When you arrive you won’t have the best view on the waterfall, you will have to cross a shallow stream to get right in front. But be careful when crossing the stream with slippery rocks. Eventually use a stick for balance. This is some of the lesser known Catlins waterfalls, but definitely worth a visit!

Punehu Falls

The Punehu waterfall is a small, wide waterfall surrounded by moss-covered trees. It’s a short but slippery descent down to the natural pool. Here you can sit down at one of the tree trunks and enjoy a little break from the hike. The natural pool is too shallow to take a dip in, and besides admiring the beauty of nature you might want to continue to the next one pretty quickly.

How to get to Waipohatu waterfall track

The Waipohatu Falls walk trailhead is located at the end of Waipohatu Road which is on the way to Curio Bay. There’s a turnoff to a gravel road from the main road which could be easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled! You’ll get to the car park in about 10 minutes where also toilets and a picnic area is located. This is the start of Waikawa forest which takes you to the Waterfall loop track.

Read in our complete guide everything about the Waipohatu waterfall walk

Watch the sunrise from Nugget Point Lighthouse

Nugget Point Lighthouse is an iconic panoramic view of the eastern coast of the Catlins. The lighthouse is one of the country’s oldest lighthouses perched on the cliff named by Captain Cook because they looked like pieces of gold.

It’s a short walk from the car park along the headland to get to the lighthouse which is officially called Tokata Lighthouse. When you look down the rocks you might be able to see a colony of fur seals or some of the world’s rarest penguins.

A funny thing to know is that Nugget Point is called like this because of the rocky islets in the ocean, the Nuggets. If you’re an early bird then Nugget Point is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. But also during the day it is worth a visit!

Spot the yellow-eyed penguin

The Yellow-eyed penguins are the rarest penguin in the world and they only breed on the south-east coast of New Zealand. They are the fourth largest penguin in the world standing at 65 cm and weighing around 5 kg. You can observe the penguins in their natural habitat at several places in the Catlins. Curio Bay is one of the easiest places to spot them from a viewing platform. The best time to spot the yellow-eyed penguins is after 5 PM until dark. So if you want to have a chance to see them, plan your day accordingly.

Check out the windswept trees at Waipapa Point

The windswept trees are something unique from the Catlins. These trees are formed over time at a 45-degree angle due to the harsh winds that sculpted them. At Waipapa Point Lighthouse you can see this kind of trees from up close and walk underneath them. It only takes a little imagination to see what they have to endure being formed like this! It’s fascinating to see.

Explore the Mc Lean Falls

The spectacular Mc Lean Falls in Catlins Forest Park is a 22-meter high multi-level cascade surrounded by mossy rocks and native forest. The short but beautiful walk through the forest along a well-maintained walking track is a great family-friendly activity in the Catlins. The stunning forest with well-maintained gravel and boarded walk is an easy walk with stunning bushes and different trees to spot along the way.

You can admire the upper and lower levels of the Mc Lean Falls from a safe viewpoint. But if you want to you can see the main waterfall from up closer when you scramble up along the rocks. This 22-meter-high Catlins waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in this region and is definitely worth a visit!

How to get to Mc Lean Falls

The Mc Lean Falls car park is located along the Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins. There are plenty of signs along the Chaslands Highway that tell you to turn off to the Rewcastle road. Most of the road conditions are sealed, only the last 3 kilometers follows a gravel road until you get to the car park.

From the car park, it is a 20-minute walk along the well-maintained, flat path until you get to the impressive McLean Falls.

Read in our complete guide everything about the Mc Lean Falls

Visit the Cathedral Caves with low tide

The Cathedral Caves are two impressively connected limestone sea caves located on Waipati Beach along the Catlins coast. These two sea-formed passages together measure 200 metres with an impressive height of 30 metres. Unfortunately, but for obvious safety reasons, you can only visit the Cathedral Caves with low tide. At the entrance of the road towards the Cathedral Caves is a sign where you can see if they are open or not. So you don’t have to drive all the down to be disappointed with a closed beach.

There is a small charge for the use of the car park and access to the bush track, beach and caves.

Children under 5 – Free

Children 5 – 14 yrs – $2 NZD

Adults 15 and over – $10 NZD

Check out the Purakaunui Falls

The Purakaunui Falls are a beautiful three-tiered waterfall in the Catlins surrounded by native forest. After a short walk through the mature beech forest, you will get to the viewing platform of Purakaunui Falls. This 15-minute return walk is easy to follow and only has some stairs down to the waterfall at the end. The Purakaunui Falls are some of the best waterfalls in the Catlins. It is even the most photographed waterfall of New Zealand! With 20 meters in height over 3 tiers, it isn’t the highest waterfall in New Zealand, but because of its different tiers and the way the water is falling down the rocks, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful!

How to get to Purakaunui Falls

Just 17 km south of Owaka is the Purakaunui Falls Scenic Reserve located. The Purakaunui Falls can be accessed from two roads off the Papatowai Highway. This road is part of the Southern Scenic Route which is a tourist highway linking Queenstown, Fiordland, Te Anau and the iconic Milford Road to Dunedin via, Riverton, Invercargill and The Catlins. In 2008 an Australian travel magazine labelled it “one of the world’s great undiscovered drives” and if you drive here yourself you will totally understand why!

So enjoy the drive to Purakaunui Falls and don’t forget to watch the signs! The falls are signposted at both turn offs coming from Owaka and Warnock Road. Once you reach the spacious car park you will see the trailhead clearly signposted. There are toilets and a picnic area at the parking lot and some information panels about the falls.

Read in our complete guide everything about the Purakaunui Falls

Admire the petrified forest at Curio Bay

Curio Bay’s petrified forest is one of the world’s finest fossil forests, dating back about 180 million years from the Jurassic period. It’s super interesting to see how this old wood has turned into stone over time. The cause was flooding, because most of what New Zealand is these days, was still lying beneath the sea at that time. So the logs, mostly from ancient conifers, were buried by volcanic debris and mud flows. Gradually over the last 10,000 years, as New Zealand’s current coastline has been formed, they were replaced by silica to produce the fossils which are now exposed and can be seen on the tree stumps at low tide.

You can walk along the fossil forest but of course make sure to not take anything and respect this geological site. The Living Forest walkway is closely located to the petrified forest so you can see how it may have looked millions years ago.

Read in our complete guide about Curio Bay more of the petrified forest

Walk to the Matai and Horseshoe Falls

The Matai Falls walk is a beautiful short walk in the Catlins through regenerating podocarp and broadleaf forest. You will get to see two Catlins Falls from a lookout point which are closely located to each other. The walk is only 15 minutes to Matai waterfall and another 4 minutes to Horseshoe Falls. It’s easy to do for every age which makes it a perfect family activity in the Catlins.

At Matai Falls is a small viewing platform, unfortunately, there isn’t another way to access the waterfall and the natural pool is too shallow and small to take a dip in. The short hike through the lush forest towards the waterfalls is a nice little break from exploring Catlins coastal area.

How to get to Matai Falls walk

The Matai Falls are located along the Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins, about 18km south of Owaka. The trailhead is located along the Papatowai Highway and clearly signposted so you can’t miss it!

Read in our complete guide everything about the Matai Falls walk

Relax at Curio Bay

Curio Bay is a stunning wild coastline in the Catlins area with spectacular scenery. It’s a beautiful place for a beach day, but also a good place to spot wildlife such as the rare yellow-eyed penguin and Hector dolphins that play in the surf.

The beach stretches from the Curio Bay Cliffs until the next headland and offers many opportunities for coastal fun and relaxation. There are natural rock pools and the calm water allows a relaxing swim. It’s a stunning wide beach to have a walk, read a book, or enjoy a swim. There is also a campground at Curio Bay, so if you want to stay overnight then that’s possible as well..

Read in our complete guide everything about Curio Bay

Visit the Southernmost Point of the South Island

Closely located to Curio Bay is Slope Point, the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand. The 10-minute walk across private farmland

from the car park brings you to the cliff edge from where you can see a sign pointing to both the Equator and the South Pole. There isn’t much else to see, but it’s definitely a fun place to tick off from your Catlins itinerary if you’re exploring this area anyway!

Walk the Tautuku Estuary walkway

The Tautuku Estuary walkway is a short 15-minute walk through podocarp forest. Surrounded by many Manuka trees and fernbirds you walk over a wooden boardwalk into an open space with wetlands called the Estuary flats. Here you can see some wildlife and enjoy the quiet, open area. Not super impressive, but a nice short stroll and very family-friendly. Even wheelchairs and buggies can join this short walk over the flat boardwalk.

Spot Hector dolphins at Curio Bay

Hector’s dolphins are the smallest and rarest dolphins in the world and can often be found in Porpoise Bay feeding, resting and socializing during the summer. Commercial dolphin-watching tours are no longer available in Porpoise Bay, however, the dolphins can often be seen from the beach.

If the Hector dolphins are in the sea, swimmers should enter the water at least 50 meters away from the dolphins to limit the disturbance. Let any interaction be on their terms and of course don’t give the dolphins food!

Look out over Bluff Hill lookout

Bluff Hill provides a spectacular view over Foveaux Strait and the Southland Plains. Located near Invercargill it is a great place to enjoy nature with its native forest, wind-battered coast and scrub-covered hillsides. There is a well-established track network, mountain bike track, car park and interpretation panels so you can enjoy the outdoors here all day.

Visit Jack’s Blowhole

Jack’s blowhole is part of a subterranean tunnel that is over 200 meters long located in Jack’s Bay. Many years ago a cave in this sea tunnel collapsed and created the famous blowhole you can see today. After a short walk along the stunning Catlins coast, you can witness the blowhole and its power. During high tide you can see a dramatic spouting show. Therefore it is recommended to plan your walk around the tide times.

Check out Tunnel Hill

The Tunnel Hill walk is a scenic walk through the historic reserve to explore some of the last remains of the old river railway running through The Catlins. Fun fact, this is the world’s southernmost railway tunnel! It was excavated by hand in 1891 and nowadays you can still see the remains. It’s s great short walk in the Catlins but nothing too overly spectacular.

Best time to visit the Catlins

The Catlins has temperate climate with an average rainfall of 1300mm throughout the year which nurtures the green landscape. The best time to visit the Catlins is roughly October until March. But the weather is always a bit unpredictable in New Zealand. Even in the summer months you can get a lot of rain.

The temperatures hover around 16-24 degrees in summer with an outlier up to 30 degrees. Perfect beach weather. Winter temperatures vary from 8-13 degrees with some frosty nights and the occasional light snowfall. The coldest months in the Catlins are July, August and September and the warmest months are from December until March.

How many days do you need in the Catlins?

aDepending on the time you have to explore the South Island, I recommend at least 2 days to explore the Catlins. If you don’t have much time, you can see the highlights of the Catlins area in one day. However, to see all the beautiful spots, 2 to 3 days is the best.

You can drive the Southern Scenic Route which is a tourist highway linking Queenstown, Fiordland, Te Anau and the iconic Milford Road to Dunedin via Invercargill and The Catlins. In 2008 an Australian travel magazine labelled it “one of the world’s great undiscovered drives” and if you drive here yourself you will totally understand why!

Best tours on the South Island

New Zealand’s South Island is full of adventure, stunning scenery and fun experiences to be made. There are few experiences that are an absolute must when you’re traveling New Zealand’s South Island. Below a summary of the best tours you can book.

Check here the best New Zealand South Island tours on GetYourGuide

Check here the best New Zealand South Island tours on Viator

Milford Sound Cruise and Kayak tour

Depart during a morning cruise on a smaller boat that travels outside of peak hours. This will give you prime viewing and more time on the water than other tours. You will listen to the informative commentary from the passionate skippers of Southern Discoveries and enjoy a provided picnic lunch. If you want to, you can include a kayak excursion and paddle Harrison Cove in a small-group. Limited to 8 people you will have a very intimate experience to really take in the immense scale of the bluffs and explore Milford Sound in a unique way.

→ Book here your Milford Sound Cruise and Kayak tour

Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

A memorable experience to see the Franz Josef Glacier from the air during a helicopter flight above ice falls, snowfields, and crevasses. You will depart from a helipad in Franz Josef and then make your way along the glacier down to a snowfield to see the icy landscape from up close. There you will take in the sweeping views across the maritime glacier. An unforgettable experience on the west coast and a once in a lifetime must do! Because in 10 years from now, glaciers will be much smaller…

→ Book here your Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

Cruise to the hidden Doubtful Sound

The lesser known and quieter version of Milford Sound is Doubtful Sound. During this full-day tour, you will journey across the clear waters of Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound. Make sure to keep an eye out for wildlife while taking in the scenery. If you’re lucky you might see fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and crested and little blue penguins. You naturalist guide will tell you everything and point out interesting sights.

→ Book here your cruise to the hidden Doubtful Sound

Take a scenic flight over Milford Sound

A Milford Sound scenic flight is the perfect way to see the impressive landscape of Fiordland NP from the air. Depart from Milford Airport and track west along Milford Sound. Climb alongside Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak for some great views of the fiords and its towering peaks. After the 20 minute helicopter flight you will return to Milford base.

→ Book here your scenic flight over Milford Sound

Another way to see Fiordland National Park from above is when you booked the scenic fly-cruise-fly tour from Queenstown. You will get a round trip flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound followed by a boat cruise in Milford Sound. Take in the spectacular views of the snow capped mountains of the Southern Alps, remote valleys and waterfalls. During the flight you will have an amazing aerial view of Lake Quill and Sutherland Falls as can be seen on the picture below. This experience will take your breath away and is a must do if your budget allows it. Without a doubt some of the most scenic flights in New Zealand.

→ Book here your Milford Sound Scenic Fly-Cruise-Fly departing Queenstown

Best places to stay in the Catlins

The Catlins are some of the most underrated destinations on New Zealand’s South Island but absolutely worth visiting. If your itinerary allows it, I would even recommend staying for a few nights around Catlins to explore not only the Catlins Conservation Park but everything in between from Invercargill to Kaka point. You can either base yourself along the coast, in Invercargill or at some of the quiet camps. There are plenty of accommodation options, but here are the best places to stay in our opinion.

Kaka point accommodation

Kaka Point accommodation is a beautiful, luxury, self-contained studio in the small sea-side town of Kaka Point at 100 meters from the beach. Surrounded by an abundance of nature and wildlife, you can awake to views of the spectacular coastal scenery.

The studios have fully equipped kitchens with a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, stove top and tea/coffee making facilities. Guests can enjoy uninterrupted, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Nugget Point Lighthouse from the privacy of their unit or relax in their private, therapeutic, double spa bath.

→ Book here your stay at Kaka point accommodation

Catlins Mohua Park

Located close-by Catlins Forest park are these stunning self-contained chalets with free WiFi and private parking. Each chalet features a fully equipped kitchen, a dining setting and a lounge area with a sofa. Every unit comes with a private bathroom with bathrobes. Bed linen and bathrobes are provided. All chalet’s at Mohua Park do not include a TV so you can fully take in the stunning views from your terrace. Free use of bicycles is available to explore the area and many of the Catlins waterfalls and other points of interest are only a 20 – 30 minute drive away. Truly a stunning and comfortable stay with beautiful views.

→ Book here your stay at Catlins Mohua Park

The Langlands Hotel Invercargill

Located within 400 meters from the city center of Invercargill you will find the Langlands hotel. Featuring spacious rooms with a fitness center, private parking, a restaurant and a bar, this 4-star hotel offers all the comfort you need. Invercargill is a great little town with plenty of restaurants. A great choice if you don’t want to be too far off the beaten path and far away from supermarkets and restaurants.

→ Book here your stay at The Langlands Hotel Invercargill

How to get around in New Zealand

To experience New Zealand to the fullest and at your own pace, renting a car, campervan or motorhome is the best way to get around. Which one of these options you choose depends on your preference and budget. If you love camping, being outdoors all day and you don’t mind a smaller living space, then renting a camper van is the way to go. It also gives you the freedom to sleep at some of the most beautiful camping spots, but for some of them you’ll have to make a reservation and plan your trip accordingly. The same goes for a motorhome which is bigger than a campervan and fits about 4-6 people. Here’s what you need to know about renting a car, camper van or motorhome in New Zealand.

Car rental New Zealand

Renting a car in New Zealand is the easiest and cheapest rental vehicle available. It will get you to all the best destinations with ease and gives you the freedom to stop for a break wherever you want. However, you should keep in mind that some roads in New Zealand are still gravel or that you have to cross shallow rivers to some destinations in National Parks. Therefore we recommend a mini SUV or SUV model to have enough clearance for this kind of roads.

We rented for 6 weeks a Mitsubishi ASX model and were super happy with this car! The best place to book your rental car in New Zealand is on Discover Cars where you can compare different car models, prices, companies and terms and conditions. You can also check Rental Cars to compare at which platform you can get the best deal. Make sure to secure the booking of your rental car as soon as possible to have the lowest price possible. Prices go up the closer you get to the pickup date.

Campervan rental in New Zealand

Traveling around in a campervan is one of the most popular ways for a road trip in New Zealand. With a bed, small kitchen and seating area you will have all the (basic) needs on four wheels. Make sure to check if your campervan has a shower or not, because it might influence where you want to camp. A campervan allows you to camp at plenty of beautiful places, sometimes for free, sometimes for a fee. It will give you a true feeling of freedom and fully connects you with nature.

We recommend booking your campervan with Travellers Autobarn as they have a wide range of Station wagons, 2-berth campervans & 3-5 berth campervans to hire for all budgets. All Travellers Autobarn campervan hires in New Zealand come with free unlimited kilometers, a 10% discount to premium campgrounds, 24/7 roadside assistance & long-term rental discounts. Check the availability and prices today to secure your campervan for a New Zealand dream road trip!

More New Zealand travel guides

I hope you enjoyed this complete guide about the best things to do in the Catlins and that it will help you to put your Catlins itinerary together. Make sure to put this unique area on your New Zealand South Island itinerary!

There are many amazing other things to do and places to visit on the South Island of New Zealand. So if you’re looking for more inspiration and ideas, head over to our other New Zealand travel guides and read more!