The Catlins & Curio Bay

On the wild southern coast of New Zealand’s South Island, The Catlins is a rugged, sparsely populated region of ancient forest, thundering waterfalls and dramatic coastline. Curio Bay is its crown jewel: a petrified forest exposed at low tide, where you can walk among 180-million-year-old tree stumps and watch yellow-eyed penguins waddle ashore. This is nature at its rawest, with few crowds and an overwhelming sense of isolation. It’s a must for self-drive adventurers, wildlife watchers and anyone craving a genuine encounter with the elements.

Highlights & What to See

• Petrified Forest at Curio Bay – At low tide, explore the fossilised remains of a Jurassic forest, complete with tree trunks and ferns turned to stone. It’s like stepping back in time.
• Yellow-eyed Penguins – Curio Bay is one of the best mainland sites to see these rare, shy birds. Arrive in late afternoon and watch them return from the sea to their nests in the surrounding scrub.
• Nugget Point – A short drive north, this iconic lighthouse sits on a rocky promontory with a colony of fur seals and sea lions. The walk to the lighthouse offers breathtaking coastal views.
• Cathedral Caves – On Waipati Beach, these two massive sea caves are accessible at low tide. The cathedral-like chambers are a surreal, echoey experience.
• McLean Falls – A 20-minute walk through podocarp forest leads to this stunning 22-metre waterfall, one of the best in the region.
• Slope Point – The southernmost point of the South Island, where windswept trees lean permanently eastward. It’s a short walk from the road and feels like the end of the earth.

Suggested Time to Spend

Give The Catlins at least two full days to do it justice. Use Curio Bay as your base for one night, then explore the highlights at a relaxed pace. Start with the petrified forest and penguins at Curio Bay, then drive north to Nugget Point and the Cathedral Caves on day two. If you’re short on time, a long day trip from Invercargill or Dunedin is possible, but you’ll miss the twilight penguin arrivals and the chance to linger.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Invercargill – The gateway city, with a decent museum and the famous Oyster & Shellfish Co. for Bluff oysters.
• Bluff – At the southern tip of the South Island, known for its seafood and the Stirling Point signpost.
• Dunedin – A 3-hour drive north, with its Victorian architecture, Otago Peninsula wildlife and the world’s steepest street.
• Fiordland National Park – About 5 hours west, home to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound – a dramatic contrast to The Catlins’ coastal scenery.
• Stewart Island – A ferry ride from Bluff, offering remote walking tracks and kiwi spotting.

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