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National park · New Zealand

The Catlins

Drive the Southern Scenic Route through The Catlins in one full day minimum, two better: no entry fee anywhere, waterfalls and forest walks are free, and the paid stop is Cathedral Caves at NZ$5, open only around low tide from late Oct to May.

Not field-verifiedSome areas permit-onlyChecked Sep 2026
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From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Area

540 km²

approximate

Established

1988

Best months

Nov–Mar

UNESCO

None

Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
  • New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
  • New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.

At a glance

Country
New Zealand
Area
540 km²
Catlins Conservation Park covers roughly 540 km² of forest and coast (check); the wider Catlins area people drive through is larger and includes private farmland and several reserves.
Established
1988
Best months
Nov–Mar
Permits
For some areas

The Catlins is a sparsely populated coastal strip across the south-east corner of the South Island, split between the Otago end around Owaka and the Southland end around Curio Bay. Most of the land is protected in the Catlins Conservation Park, managed by DOC. There is no gate, no ticket and no single entrance: you drive the Southern Scenic Route and stop at waterfalls, forest tracks, fossil forest and beaches where sea lions, fur seals, Hector's dolphins and yellow-eyed penguins live. The only paid attraction is Cathedral Caves, and it opens only around low tide for part of the year.

Decide

Why go, which months, and what lives here when

At a glance

Status

  • No UNESCO listing; national park since 1988.

Size and age

540 km² · national park since 1988

Catlins Conservation Park covers roughly 540 km² of forest and coast (check); the wider Catlins area people drive through is larger and includes private farmland and several reserves.

Why go

  • Free access to waterfalls, native forest tracks and a coastline with no ticket booth anywhere.
  • Wildlife you can see from a car park: sea lions on Surat Bay and Cannibal Bay beaches, fur seals below Nugget Point lighthouse, Hector's dolphins in the surf at Porpoise Bay.
  • A Jurassic fossil forest at Curio Bay, walkable on the rock platform when the tide is out.
  • A quiet alternative to Fiordland: the same southern forest and coast, without the queues or the cruise bookings.

When to go

12-month verdict
  1. JanBest
  2. FebBest
  3. MarBest
  4. AprGo
  5. MayGo
  6. JunCaution
  7. JulCaution
  8. AugCaution
  9. SepGo
  10. OctGo
  11. NovBest
  12. DecBest
  • JanLong days, warm; dolphins often close to shore
  • FebSettled weather; penguins moulting, fewer evening sightings
  • MarMild, quieter, good light
  • AprCooler; Cathedral Caves still open
  • MayCathedral Caves close at month end; wet tracks
  • JunShort days, rain, some tracks muddy
  • JulColdest; snow rare at sea level but possible inland
  • AugWet and windy; few other visitors
  • SepSpring; lambing closures on farmland walks
  • OctSlope Point walkway closed for lambing; Cathedral Caves reopen late Oct
  • NovSlope Point reopens; long evenings for penguin viewing
  • DecWarm, busy by local standards; book beds ahead

Wildlife and nature calendar

Seasons shift by weeks each year
Wildlife and nature calendar for The Catlins
WhatJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Hector's dolphins in Porpoise BayNov–Apr · Often visible from the beach in summer and autumn, sometimes inside the surf line. Do not swim towards them.yesyesyesyesnonononononoyesyes
Yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho)All year · Come ashore in the late afternoon and early evening at Curio Bay and Roaring Bay. View from hides and keep well back.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
New Zealand sea lionsAll year · On sandy beaches at Surat Bay, Cannibal Bay and Waipapa Point; they can move fast.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Fur sealsAll year · On rocky shore below Nugget Point and around the south coast.yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Mohua (yellowhead) and forest birdsOct–Mar · In the Catlins River valley forest; tomtits are common on the same track.yesyesyesnonononononoyesyesyes

Arrive & move

Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are

How to get there

From Dunedin

Drive the Southern Scenic Route via Balclutha and Kaka Point, or turn inland at Clinton for Owaka.

1.5–2 h to Kaka Point, 2 h to Owaka

From Invercargill

Drive via Fortrose and Waikawa to Curio Bay, then north-east along the coast road.

1.5–2 h to Curio Bay

From Queenstown

Drive via Gore and Balclutha, or via Invercargill for the southern end.

3.5–4.5 h

Open the page →

From Southland plan

Where The Catlins fits in a Southland and Southern Scenic Route itinerary.

Zones and sectors

Zones of The Catlins
ZoneWhat is thereAccess
North Catlins (Otago end)Owaka, Pounawea, Surat Bay, Cannibal Bay, Tunnel Hill, Purakaunui Falls, McLean Falls and the Catlins River valley.Open; free DOC tracks, some short walks from the road.
Central coast (Chaslands)Cathedral Caves, Waipohatu Forest, Florence Hill lookouts and the Tautuku Bay stretch of the highway.Open; Cathedral Caves paid and tide-dependent.
South Catlins (Southland end)Waikawa, Curio Bay, Porpoise Bay, Slope Point and Waipapa Point.Open; Slope Point walkway crosses private farmland and closes for lambing in Oct–Nov.
Nugget Point and Kaka PointLighthouse, the Nuggets islets, Roaring Bay penguin hide and the northern gateway to the route.Open; short walks from the car parks.

Sketch map

Approximate — not for navigation
Sketch map of 10 approximate points in The Catlins, north up12345678910
Approximate positions along the Southern Scenic Route from Kaka Point to Waipapa Point, for orientation only.
  1. 1Owaka · Town≈-46.450, 169.661Museum and information centre, 10 Campbell St.Map ↗
  2. 2Purakaunui Falls car park · Trail≈-46.517, 169.558Map ↗
  3. 3McLean Falls car park · Trail≈-46.574, 169.347Map ↗
  4. 4Cathedral Caves · Cave≈-46.604, 169.375Map ↗
  5. 5Florence Hill lookouts · Viewpoint≈-46.574, 169.459Map ↗
  6. 6Nugget Point lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-46.448, 169.817Map ↗
  7. 7Surat Bay · Beach≈-46.479, 169.724Map ↗
  8. 8Curio Bay · Beach≈-46.663, 169.106Map ↗
  9. 9Slope Point · Viewpoint≈-46.660, 169.000Approximate; the walkway starts at the end of an unsealed road off the Curio Bay–Haldane road.Map ↗
  10. 10Waipapa Point lighthouse · Viewpoint≈-46.660, 168.847Map ↗

See & do

Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking

Top experiences

CavesEasy1 h returnCathedral CavesA 30-minute walk each way from Pratt Rd to two sea-carved caves. Open about two hours either side of low tide, late Oct to May; check the tide table before driving in.Booking: Pay at the gate; no booking
TrailsModerate5 h one wayCatlins River WalkForest track along the river from Tawanui to The Wisp. Arrange a car at each end or swap keys halfway; wire bridges cross the river.
TrailsEasy40 min returnMcLean Falls WalkShort track through dense forest to the highest waterfall in the area. Muddy after rain.
TrailsEasy20 min returnPurakaunui Falls WalkTen minutes each way through forest to a three-tiered 20 m fall; the most photographed stop on the route.
TrailsEasy1 h or 3 hWaipohatu Forest WalksTwo options: a 1 km wheelchair-standard loop through ferns and podocarps, or a three-hour return to two waterfalls.
ViewpointsEasy30–45 minNugget Point and Roaring BayTen to twenty minutes return to the 1869 lighthouse above the Nuggets islets. Use the Roaring Bay hide for yellow-eyed penguins in the late afternoon and stay off that beach.
CultureEasy30–60 minCurio Bay fossil forestWalk the rock platform at low tide to see Jurassic logs and stumps in place, about 180 million years old.
WildlifeEasy30 min returnSurat Bay and Cannibal BayPoled route through dunes from New Haven to a beach where sea lions rest. Keep 20 m away and never between an animal and the sea.
TrailsEasy20–30 minTunnel HillWalk through a 250 m hand-dug brick railway tunnel from the 1890s; bring a torch.

Practical

Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong

Entry fees and permits

NZD ranges · check
Fees for The Catlins
ItemRangePerNote
Entry to The Catlins and Catlins Conservation ParkFreepersonNo entrance fee; DOC land is free to walk. Some car parks ask for a donation (check).
Cathedral CavesNZD 5personAdult NZ$5, child NZ$1 (2026 estimate); cash or card at the gate, open only around low tide, late Oct to May.
Tunnel HillFreepersonFree historic reserve; bring a torch.
Camping at DOC or local groundsNZD 10–30person per nightTent sites from about NZ$10–16 per person, powered sites around NZ$30 (2026 estimate).

Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.

None for general visiting no permit

No permit, pass or booking is needed to drive the route or walk the DOC tracks.

Cathedral Caves access no permit

Pay at the gate on Pratt Rd when it is open; no advance booking.

Commercial or guided trips permit or guide

Book directly with the operator; guided forest and wildlife tours run out of Owaka and the surrounding valley.

Park rules

Drones, guides, camping and more
Wildlife distance
Stay at least 20 m from sea lions and fur seals, and never block a path to the water. Use hides for penguins and keep off beaches where they come ashore in the evening.
Dogs
Not allowed on DOC tracks and reserves in the Catlins, and never on beaches used by sea lions or penguins.
Drone use
Check DOC rules before flying anywhere in the conservation park; wildlife areas are effectively off limits.check
Camping
Freedom camping is restricted; use the camping grounds at Pounawea, New Haven, Kaka Point, Curio Bay or the Whistling Frog site.
Farmland walks
The Slope Point walkway crosses private farmland and closes for lambing in October and November.
Fires and rubbish
No fires on conservation land; carry out everything you bring in.

Where to stay

In the park

Owaka

The main town, population about 400: museum and information centre, cafe, bar, and the base for the northern waterfalls and forest tracks.

In the park

Pounawea and New Haven

Estuary camping ground and holiday park within a few minutes of Surat Bay sea lions.

In the park

Kaka Point

Small coastal village at the northern end, with a camping ground, one restaurant and takeaways, 10 minutes from Nugget Point.

In the park

Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay

Camping ground and lodge beside the beach; penguins and dolphins on the doorstep.

In the park

Whistling Frog area (Chaslands)

Tent sites, cabins and cottages beside the cafe, a short drive from McLean Falls and Cathedral Caves.

Near the park

Dunedin or Invercargill

Full city services 1.5–2 h either side if you would rather not stay in the Catlins.

Safety

Sea lions on beaches medium

Give them 20 m, keep children close and back away if one lifts its head or moves towards you. They can outrun a person on sand.

Tides at Curio Bay and Cathedral Caves medium

Check a tide table before both stops. The fossil platform and the caves are only safely accessible near low tide.

Weather changes medium

The south coast turns cold and wet quickly in any month. Carry a rain jacket and warm layer on every walk, even short ones.

Remote roads and fuel medium

Fill up in Balclutha, Clinton, Owaka or Invercargill. Some stretches have no fuel, no shops and patchy phone signal.

Muddy and rough tracks low

Wear boots on the Catlins River and Waipohatu tracks; tree roots and wire bridges are slippery after rain.

Accessibility

  • The Waipohatu Forest 1 km loop is built to wheelchair standard.
  • Purakaunui Falls, McLean Falls and Nugget Point involve steps and uneven ground; the falls viewpoints are not step-free.
  • Most wildlife lookouts and car parks are reached by sealed or good gravel road with short walks from the car.

Visiting lightly

  • Keep the wildlife distance rules: disturbance at penguin and sea lion beaches is the main local conservation issue.
  • Pay the Cathedral Caves fee and use donation boxes; the money goes back into track and access maintenance.
  • Buy fuel, food and beds in Owaka, Kaka Point, Pounawea and Curio Bay so the small communities benefit from the traffic.
  • Take all rubbish out; there are few bins on the route.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter The Catlins?

Nothing. There is no entrance fee, gate or pass for The Catlins or for Catlins Conservation Park, and the DOC tracks and waterfalls are free. The only paid stop is Cathedral Caves, about NZ$5 per adult and NZ$1 per child, open around low tide from late October to May. Camping grounds charge per night, from roughly NZ$10–16 per person for a tent site.

What are the best hikes in The Catlins?

For short walks: Purakaunui Falls (20 minutes return), McLean Falls (40 minutes return) and the Nugget Point lighthouse track (10–20 minutes return). For a half day: the Catlins River Walk, about five hours one way through forest from Tawanui to The Wisp, which needs a car at each end. Waipohatu offers both a 1 km easy loop and a three-hour return to two waterfalls.

When is the best time to visit The Catlins?

December to March for the warmest, longest days and the best chance of seeing Hector's dolphins from Porpoise Bay. November and April are quieter with decent weather. Winter is wet, cold and very quiet, and Cathedral Caves are closed from late May to late October. The Slope Point walkway closes for lambing in October and November.

Do I need a national park pass?

No. New Zealand conservation land is free to enter, and The Catlins has no pass system. Passes sold for US, Canadian and other park networks do not apply here; see the passes page for how those schemes work elsewhere.

How long do I need in The Catlins?

One full day covers the drive and three or four short stops. Two nights based in Owaka or Curio Bay lets you add the Catlins River Walk, Cathedral Caves at the right tide and an evening at a penguin hide without rushing.

Can I see penguins and dolphins without a tour?

Yes. Yellow-eyed penguins come ashore in the late afternoon at Curio Bay and Roaring Bay, where there are hides. Hector's dolphins are often visible from Porpoise Bay beach in summer and autumn. Keep your distance, stay out of the water near them and never approach a penguin.

Related

Plan your trip to New Zealand National park passes South Island

Deep dive

Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go

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