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- Fortrose. The bay’s main attraction is the shipwreck of the Ino Steamship that is unveiled at low tide. Apart from shipwreck spotting, you can enjoy a walk along the beach and sit on the giant rock.
- Jack’s Blowhole. You may have seen a few blowholes in New Zealand, whether it’s a rock formation or a that of a dolphin. However, what makes Jack’s Blowhole so special is that it is located more than 200 metres (656 feet) away from the sea!
- Surat Bay. The colony of sea lions draw the crowds in every day but the history of Surat Bay is quite fascinating too. It got its name from the ship Surat that wrecked in the bay in 1874.
- Matai Falls. Take a stunning 30-minute track through a sheltered forest thick with mossy trunks and branches. All this leads to Matai Stream in the Catlins Forest Park with two waterfalls, Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls.
- Get Epic Photos at Nugget Point. One of the most iconic attractions of the Catlins Coast, Nugget Point is often the first/last thing to see by being located in the north of the district.
- Explore Cathedral Caves. This one is a little tricky to get to, but if you are able to get to it it’s definitely worth checking out one of the world’s largest sea caves!
- Walk to McLean Falls. The Catlins has no lack of waterfalls. The most majestic of them all is McLean Falls. Follow the Tautuku River, along the 40-minute McLean Falls Walkway, through lush rainforest past teasing cascades of small waterfalls until you reach the main event!
- See a Fossilised Forest and Penguins at Curio Bay. The main attraction at Curio Bay is the fascinating petrified forest! A viewing platform overlooks fallen tree trunks and trees stumps from the Jurassic era fossilised into the rocky coast below.
- Waterfalls
- Purakaunui Falls
- Mclean Falls
- Matai Falls
- Waipohatu Falls
- Lighthouses and Viewpoints
- Nugget Point Lighthouse
- Jack’s Blowhole
- Florence Hill Lookout
- Slope Point
One of the best things to do in the Catlins is a waterfall walk. There are some great options, from a 5-minute stroll through the forest to Purakaunui Falls to the half-day walk to Waipohatu Falls.
Purakaunui Fallsis the most popular waterfall in the Catlins, partly because it’s awesome and partly because it’s a very short walk from the car park.
McLean Fallstakes a bit longer to reach (45-minute round-trip walk) but it’s a more impressive waterfall. It’s surrounded by lush forest and drops down several tiers – such a nice spot on a sunny day and it’s way quieter than Purakaunui Falls.
This waterfall is a little more low-key than the first two, but definitely worth seeking out if you love waterfalls. There’s also another waterfall on the Matai Fallstrack – Horseshoe Falls – and the walk from the car park isn’t too arduous.
There are two waterfalls on this track, but it’s a lot longer than the others (2-3 hours return). Waipohatu Fallsis the perfect place for people wanting a bit more of a hike than the other waterfalls and the falls themselves are stunning. You’ll also likely have them all to yourself. READ MORE: Where Are the Best Waterfalls in the Catlins?
The Catlins is home to some of the best coastal views in New Zealand, and you don’t usually have to walk far from the car park to see them.
Nugget Pointis one of the things to do in the Catlins that’s on everyone’s list. It’s one of the most interesting coastal views in New Zealand and it’s really dramatic at sunrise. If possible, try and do it for sunrise, but go there anyway if you can’t!
A short walk from Jack’s Baytakes you to Jack’s Blowhole. It’s a scenic little track and the blowhole is cool too. You might see some penguins and sea lions in these parts – we saw a penguin from the track and heaps of sea lions at Jack’s Bay.
One of the easiest things to do in the Catlins is visit Florence Hill Lookout. It’s just a car park by the side of the road, and the view is amazing. I’d easily put it in my top five coastal viewpoint in New Zealand – you can’t beat that combination of white sand and clear blue water backed by the wild green forest.
Slope Pointis the southernmost point on the South Island, and it’s worth a look for that fact alone. It’s a nice spot (the lighthouse isn’t up to much though) but if you’ve only got a short time in the Catlins this is one place I’d skip (mostly because it’s a longish drive from the rest of the places of interest).
- Matai and Horseshoe Falls. Location: between Owaka and Papatowai. Park up in the large roadside carpark, and take an easy ten-minute walk through native bush along the Matai stream.
- Purakaunui Falls. Location: 17km south of Owaka, near Purakaunui. You couldn’t ask for a more picture-perfect scene than the Purakaunui Falls as they cascade over rocky tiers into the quiet river below.
- Koropuku Falls. Location: 24km west of Papatowi. If you’d rather find an off-the-beaten-track waterfall, look out for a tiny signpost on the roadside roughly halfway between Tokanui and Papatowai indicating the Koropuku Falls.
- McLean Falls. Location: Rewcastle Rd. Turn off the main road 11km southwest of Papatowai. While Koropuku may be off most people’s radar, the well-signposted way to the magnificent McLean Falls is hard to miss.
Things to Do in The Catlins. The main draw of The Catlins is the region’s stunning and abundant natural attractions; waterfalls and bays galore, caves, cliffs, blowholes, hidden lakes, wetlands and even a petrified forest. Numerous short walking tracks help visitors explore these wonders.
Sep 17, 2024 · On my travels around the area, I’ve enjoyed some really beautiful walks, seen a ton of wildlife, and found some beautiful waterfalls. In fact, many of the South Island’s best waterfalls are tucked away in the Catlins. If you ask me, all of this makes the Catlins the perfect road trip destination.
Apr 22, 2021 · Things to Do in The Catlins, South Island: See Tripadvisor's traveller reviews and photos of The Catlins attractions.
